Green life is the new direction for the future. In addition to waste reduction, recycling, and adopting a low-carbon lifestyle, we can also choose to embrace green practices for after-death arrangement.

Green burial is a more environmentally friendly and sustainable means of handling cremated ashes. Scattering the ashes in Gardens of Remembrance or designated waters to replace placing the ashes in niches, allowing them to return to nature and continue the cycle of life, which holds significant meaning.

Columbarium niches are rarely recycled, which, in the long run, puts cumulative pressure on limited land resources. On the contrary, adopting green burial not only promotes sustainability but also aligns with the belief in living a fulfilled life and returning to nature.

Increasing number of people choosing green burial.

The government has been committed to promoting green burial. Over the past decade, the prevalence of green burial has significantly increased. The number of green burials almost quadrupled from about 2,400 in 2011 to about 9,400 in 2023. This remarkable growth is truly encouraging.

Statistic of Green Burial

Currently, scattering of cremated ashes can take place in the 13 Gardens of Remembrance (GoRs) under the management of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and 3 designated areas in Hong Kong waters. Another GoR under construction in the Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin is expected to be completed and commissioned by 2025. Moreover, the Government encourages non-governmental and religious organizations to build GoR within their managed cemeteries. The Government will continue to improve facilities and services for the convenience of the public.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) currently provides free scattering services in Gardens of Remembrance and designated Hong Kong waters. Over other traditional funeral methods (such as depositing ashes in public columbaria or licensed private columbaria, or keeping them at home), green burial has the following advantages:

• Returning to nature; at the final moment of life, establishing a permanent connection with the natural world, leaving behind a better world for future generations.
• Enhanced eco-friendly and simplified funeral methods
• Simplified and faster application process.
• Relatively lower costs. (Note: FEHD currently provides free scattering services in Gardens of Remembrance and designated Hong Kong waters.
• Avoidance of future extension procedures for columbarium niches.

(Note: Starting from 26 April 2019, the initial interment period for public columbarium niches allocated is 20 years and can be extended at 10-year intervals thereafter upon payment of the prevailing applicable fees.)

「To My …」a new memorial facility is a participatory artwork in GoR at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun. It was created by local wood artist Parry Ling on the themes of environmental protection and remembrance. It is created in the shape of a wooden boat by using debris from fallen trees and other garden waste collected from Y·PARK. The boat is a metaphor not only to commemorate those who have passed away and used green burial, but also to provide a space of transition for their loved ones after their departure. Memorial post boxes with local characteristics on the artwork allow families of those who have used green burial services (including scattering of cremains at sea and in GoRs) to send their blessings and remembrance to the deceased by posting memorial notes.

Tsang Tsui GoR has been installed with a new landmark of green burial name "To My …"

In addition to installing the new commemorative facility, the FEHD will provide the following new services:

• Floral farewell bag which is made of dried flowers and recycled paper is provided by FEHD free of charge as an option to users of the free ferry service for scattering cremains at sea. Families and friends may write down their blessings on the floral bag, adding elegance and personalization to the ash scattering ceremony.
• Tsang Tsui GoR to be the first GoR to provide, on a trial basis, a Ceremonial Room for family members to hold simple memorial ceremonies before scattering cremains in the GoR;
• Provide families with the option of scattering devices : traditional metal ash scattering device or one-off paper scattering device provided free of charge by the FEHD for the scattering of cremains in GoR. They can write down their blessings and words of remembrance for the deceased on the paper ash scattering devices. Members of the public may also bring other ash scattering devices or containers to scatter cremains;
• Watering pots are provided in designated GoRs for families to water the grass after scattering cremains, so that the cremains of the deceased can be mixed into the soil and turned into spring soil to nurture flowers and plants;
• Providing those who choose to use the service to scatter cremains at sea with a memorial card with the name of the deceased, date and place of scattering of ashes, together with a memorial photo frame as a keepsake; and
• Enhancing the free ferry service for scattering cremains at sea to allow applicants to change the date of scattering cremains online.

Post boxes on "To my..." enables families to express their feelings or share thoughts of their lost loved ones.

Tsang Tsui GoR features a Ceremonial Room that allows relatives and friends to conduct a simple farewell ceremony prior to the scattering of ashes.

For better green burial service, families are offered with the option of using free one-off paper scattering device & watering pot for the scattering of cremains in designated GoRs.

Memorial photo frame as a keepsake to the families who choose to use the service to scatter cremains at sea

Floral Farewell Bag :Floral farewell bag which is made up of dried flowers and recycled paper is provided by FEHD free of charge as an option to user of free ferry service for scattering cremains at sea, so as to add a touch of elegance and personalization to the simplicity of the ash scattering ceremony at sea.

• "To my..." is a participatory art installation created by local woodcut artist Mr. Parry Ling, with environmental conservation and remembrance as its main themes. The artist utilized fallen tree waste and other garden debris collected from Y·PARK to recreate and construct the artwork. It is located in the waterfront Tsang Tsui GoR and serves as a new commemorative facility for green burial. The GoR is adorned with distinctive pebbles, harmoniously integrating with nature, providing a serene environment for citizens to pay tribute to their ancestors. Post boxes with local colours on the artwork also enables families to express their feelings or share thoughts of their lost loved ones.




Photo album of Commemorative Wooden Artwork - "To my..."

• Artwork Creation Concept: The creation of the artwork revolves around the concept of the ferry as the primary tool for scattering ashes at sea, symbolizing the journey to the other side of life in various cultures. The artwork in an image of a Chinese boat not only commemorates sea burials but also provides a transitional space for the living and the departed. Post boxes with local colours on the artwork are labelled with different locations for scattering ashes, allowing the living to express their thoughts and remembrance to their lost loved ones through written letters.
• How to send letters of remembrance?
  Post boxes on the "To my..." are labelled with the following destinations: 3 designated areas in Hong Kong waters for scattering cremated ashes (namely East of Tap Mun, East of Tung Lung Chau and South of West Lamma Channel), the GoR and Forever Remembered. Family and friends can send letters of remembrance to their lost loved ones, conveying blessings and thoughts of remembrance.
  Sending letters of remembrance mainly involves the following steps:
  • 1. Obtain letters of remembrance at the office of Tuen Mun Tsang Tsui Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance or at the pavilions on both sides of the “To my...”. (Marked with on the map)
  • 2. Write blessings and remembrances for the deceased on the back of the letters of remembrance.
  • 3. Place the letters of remembrance into the post boxes on the “To my...”, where staff from the FEHD will regularly collect the letters for cremation (Location B on the map). (Marked with on the map).
  
  :Locations of the "To my..." and the post boxes       : 3 Locations offering letters of remembrance
• Production process of the "To my..."
  Select suitable discarded trees at Y·PARK ⇒ Fabricates metal frames ⇒ Cut and air-dry ⇒ Inlay ⇒ Transport ⇒ Final product.

To learn more about artist Mr. Parry Ling's insights and sharing on the "To my..." artwork and green burial.：

• Although the deceased have passed away, the traces they left behind, the love they brought, and the memories they created will forever be engraved in the hearts of their family members, and they will not fade away with the passage of time.
• New commemorative facility "To my..." for green burial is installed in Garden of Remembrance of Tsang Tsui Columbarium, providing a serene environment for citizens to pay tribute to their ancestors. Post boxes on the artwork also enables families to express their feelings or share thoughts of their lost loved ones through written letters.
• The public may create a memorial webpage at the Internet Memorial Service website (http://www.memorial.gov.hk) and upload texts, photos and videos to preserve fond memories of their lost loved ones.
• Moreover, local funeral service providers also offer innovative green burial options, such as retaining a small amount of ashes and transforming them into memorial crystals, diamonds or glass displays.

Every person will go through the cycle of life, including birth, aging, illness, and death. Engaging in advance planning and sharing one's desire to return to nature with family members is a gesture of thoughtfulness towards both the family and the natural world. By doing so, family members will not feel helpless or encounter conflicts when handling after-death arrangements, contributing to maintaining family harmony.

FEHD has set up the Green Burial Central Register to enable the public to register their wish for green burial. The registration process for green burial is simple and free of charge. FEHD will follow up appropriately if a deceased person is identified on the register upon cremation booking. Click here to register.

Even if there is no prior registration, descendants can still take on green burial for the deceased.

In order to further reduce resource consumption and carbon emissions, you can also consider:

1. Organizing a simple, environmentally friendly, yet solemn funeral for yourself or your ancestors. This may involve using eco-coffins and opting for farewell services in hospitals.

2. Green worship: Burning joss paper is a traditional practice. When expressing remembrance and gratitude to our ancestors, individuals can opt for environmentally friendly ancestral worship practices, such as using fresh flowers as offerings instead of burning joss paper, engaging in electronic worship, and offering digital offerings.

The five free memorial sails organized by the FEHD during Ching Ming Festival 2024, which took place on 24 & 28 March and 7,12 &14 April respectively, were successfully completed. The next event will be held during Chung Yeung Festival 2024, and details will be announced in August 2024.

FEHD arranges green burial talks, visits to GoRs or attendance of sea scattering service for relevant Non-Government Organisations and other institutions as appropriate. For detailed arrangement, please call 2562 7130 (Monday to Friday (except public holidays), 9am to 5pm).