According to the current policy, the applicant has to exhume the remains which have been interred in a public cemetery for six years. After the exhumation, the applicant can choose to re-bury the remains at an urn grave of a public cemetery or make an application for cremating the remains.
Application procedures for exhumation of remains
If buried at a public cemetery
(the remains must be exhumed after six years of interment in a public cemetery)
The required documents are as follows:
- a completed "Application for Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEHB 148)
- the original identity document of the applicant
-
the documentary proof of the applicant's relationship with the deceased
(The applicant should be the legal personal representative or next of kin of the deceased, or an authorised person of such person. If no such proof is available, the applicant is required to take an oath at the Cemeteries and Crematoria Office.)
If buried at a private cemetery
(depending on the type of grave spaces of individual cemetery, the remains may need to be exhumed before the end of a specified period)
The required documents are as follows:
- a completed "Application for Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEHB 148)
- the original identity document of the applicant
- the approval document for removal / exhumation of remains issued by the respective cemetery
- An"Application for Urn Grave Burial or Placing Additional Skeletal Remains / Ashes" (FEHB 262) can be submitted at the same time for re-burial of the remains in a public cemetery.
- An "Application for Cremation of Skeletal Remains" (FEHB 263) can be submitted at the same time for cremation of the remains.
The FEHD staff check the documents.
After fee payment on the spot, the applicant will be issued with the following documents:
- "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEH(L)86A)
After fee payment on the spot, the applicant will be issued with the following documents:
- "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEH(L)86A)
- "Authorisation to Exhume Remains" (FEHB 150)*
The FEHD staff will contact the applicant within 10 days for arranging the date and time for the exhumation of remains.
The applicant should engage a registered mason to exhume the remains.
On the day of exhumation:
- the applicant brings along the original of the "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEH(L)86A) to the office of the cemetery concerned for registration
- the registered mason exhumes the remains under the supervision of the FEHD staff
- after the exhumation, the applicant will be issued with an "Authorisation to Exhume Remains" (FEHB 150)*
*The "Authorisation to Exhume Remains" (FEHB 150) is a required document for application for cremation of the
exhumed remains, re-burial of the remains at a public cemetery, re-burial of the remains at an urn grave of a
private cemetery, or keeping them in an ossuary of a private cemetery.
After the exhumation, the exhumed remains can be disposed of in the following ways:
Cremation of Skeletal Remains
Application procedures
- Obtain a "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEH(L)86A) (please refer to the application procedures for exhumation of remains)
- Submit an "Application for Cremation of Skeletal Remains" (FEHB 263) to a Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
- Be issued with a payment receipt for cremation of skeletal remains after completion of the formalities and payment of fee
-
On the day of cremation, bring along the exhumed remains and the following documents to the Wo Hop Shek or Cheung Chau Crematorium Office for cremation of the remains:
- the original "Authorisation to Exhume Remains" (FEHB 150); and
- the payment receipt for cremation of skeletal remains
- Collect the cremated ashes and a "Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes" (FEHB 153) with the payment receipt for cremation of skeletal remains at the relevant crematorium office or the specified Cemeteries and Crematoria Office 4 days after the cremation 153］。
Re-burial at an urn grave of a public cemetery
Application procedures
- Obtain a "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEH(L)86A) (please refer to the application procedures for exhumation of remains)
-
Submit the following documents to Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office:
- a completed "Application for Urn Grave Burial or Placing Additional Skeletal Remains / Ashes" (FEHB 262)
- the documentary proof from the relevant trade association or organisation for application for burial at a private lot in Wo Hop Shek Cemetery or Sandy Ridge Urn Cemetery
- other supporting documents for application for an urn grave in Cheung Chau Cemetery, Tai O Cemetery or Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery at Mui Wo if the deceased was not originally buried in such cemeteries
- Be issued with an "Authorisation to Bury Skeletal Remains" upon completion of the formalities and payment of fee
- Engage a registered mason to bury the exhumed remains in an urn grave
Re-burial at an urn grave of a private cemetery / Interment in an ossuary of a private cemetery
Please make enquiries to the private cemetery concerned direct.
Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices
| Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office | Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Address | 1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong (Next to Hong Kong Cemetery) |
Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon | ||||||
| Telephone Number | 2570 4318 / 2572 5286 | 2365 5321 / 2364 5364 | ||||||
| Office Hours |
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