How to arrange a funeral?
After the death of a family member, the bereaved have to engage a licensed undertaker of burials or a licensed funeral parlour to assist with the funeral or burial arrangements. Currently, there are around 130 licensed undertakers of burials in Hong Kong, with 7 of them also holding funeral parlour licences.
When choosing funeral and burial services, the FEHD advises the public to first:
- understand the details of service charges of different licensed undertakers of burials or licensed funeral parlours; and
- carefully consider whether the items suggested are necessary and whether the charges are reasonable.
- Consumer Council (August 2019) - An article on the intransparent charges of funeral services (Chinese Version Only)
Steps of after-death arrangements
The passing away of a family member, relative or friend
Discussion among the bereaved family members about the funeral details and the way of burial (cremation / burial)
Obtaining documents like Certificate of Registration of Death and Cremation Permit, and engaging a licensed undertaker of burials
Traditional funeral
(conducted at a service hall of a funeral parlour)
Notifying relatives and friends of the date of funeral
Collecting the body from the hospital or a public mortuary by the undertaker
Holding the funeral ceremony at a funeral parlour
Conducting simple memorial rites at a farewell room of the hospital by the bereaved
Transporting the body to a crematorium / cemetery for cremation or burial
If cremation is chosen
- collecting the cremated ashes at the selected venue after the cremation
- For the ways to handle ashes after cremation, please refer to "Step 4 - Disposal of Cremated Ashes"
If burial is chosen
- burying the body at a public cemetery/private cemetery
- For details of exhumation of skeletal remains and subsequent handling, please refer to "Step 3 – Handling of Deceased Bodies"
