Services and Support for the Bereaved

When someone close to you passes away, you will need all the support you can get to cope with the pain and the many changes in daily life. There are Government services that you may find useful during this difficult time, ranging from death registration, burial arrangement and estate management to financial assistance.

Registering a Death

For deaths resulting from natural causes, a relative or friend of the deceased is required to inform the Government within 14 days of the death through the Death Registries under section 14 of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, Chapter 174, Laws of Hong Kong. It is a criminal offence if anyone refuses or, without reasonable excuse, omits to register a death as required by the law. Offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of HK$2,000 or up to six months' imprisonment.

If the death is a result of unnatural or uncertain medical causes, it would be reported to the Coroner by a doctor or a police officer in-charge for further investigation. The Births and Deaths Registrar will complete the death registration within one week after the cause of death is determined by the Coroner and will notify the family members of the deceased in writing.

Arranging a Cremation or Coffin Burial

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) provides services on cremation and burial of body and skeletal remains to the public. Information on cremation services can also be searched online.

Introduction of cemeteries and crematoria services managed by the FEHD

Information on booking of cremation service

Available cremation sessions lookup

The FEHD launched the “Online Cremation Application and Pre-paid System (OCAPS)” with a view to expediting the processing of cremation applications to provide convenience for the public. Applicants or their proxies / undertakers can complete the application form and make payment online in advance through the system. After pre-payment, they are required to submit the signed application form (FEHB 135), the pre-payment receipt and the originals of relevant documents at FEHD's Hong Kong or Kowloon Cremation Booking Office to go through the cremation application formalities or apply for a token for online cremation booking.

Online Cremation Application and Pre-paid System (OCAPS)

Note: Applicants or their proxies / undertakers can print out the application forms for death registration of the Immigration Department and cremation permit of the Department of Health after completing the application information and payment, which is convenient and time-saving. The application forms for cremation service completed through undertaker account are no longer required to be stamped and signed by the undertaker.

Available niches lookup

Application for allocation of niches

The Government has proposed to introduce a licensing scheme for regulating private columbaria. The Government aims to introduce the Bill into the Legislative Council in the fourth quarter of 2013. Prior to the introduction of the licensing scheme, citizens who wish to purchase niches at private columbaria are advised to read the following tips and information, which may help them to make an informed choice.

Regarding burials, citizens may refer to the links below for more information.

Scattering of Cremated Human Ashes

Scattering of cremated human ashes at sea or in FEHD’s Gardens of Remembrance is another alternative for disposal of cremains. These environmentally friendly ways for disposing of the ashes of the deceased have been gradually accepted by the public. Citizens may, with approval of the FEHD, scatter cremated human ashes in designated Hong Kong waters or in the eight Gardens of Remembrance of the FEHD.

Importing and Exporting Human Remains

If the death occurs overseas and the family wishes to bring the deceased back to Hong Kong or import the exhumed remains for cremation or burial in an urn grave, the applications should be submitted to the Port Health Office of the Department of Health and the FEHD. For the exportation of exhumed remains, application should be made to the FEHD.  In the event of exportation of cremated ashes, some countries may require a certificate or permit of cremation. In this connection, families of the deceased can apply to the FEHD for the relevant documents.

For exportation of bodies, a permit must be sought from the Deaths Registry.

Estate Duties and Support Services for Estate Beneficiaries

Since the enactment of the Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005 on 11 February 2006, the bereaved are no longer required to pay duty on the estates of people who have passed away on or after that date. There is no need for the bereaved to file estate duty affidavits or accounts or to submit any estate duty clearance papers in their application for a grant of representation. However, estate duty is still chargeable on the estates of people who passed away before 11 February 2006.

To exercise the right to handle the deceased’s estate as provided by the law, estate beneficiaries of the deceased may apply for a Grant of Representation to the Probate Registry. The Grant may take the form of a grant of probate, a grant of letters of administration or a grant of letters of administration (with will annexed), depending on whether the deceased has left a will and appointed an executor.

The Home Affairs Department provides support services for estate beneficiaries of persons who passed away on or after 11 February 2006. The services include:

• issuing a Confirmation Notice to certify that the handling of a small estate wholly made up of money not exceeding $50,000 will be exempted from the relevant intermeddling provisions; and
• issuing relevant certificates to authorise the release of money from the bank account of the deceased person to meet his funeral expenses or the maintenance of his former dependants, and inspection of bank deposit boxes of the deceased person.

Financial Assistance

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) provides 3 Accident Compensation Schemes to help the families of the bereaved in cases of death as a result of road traffic accidents, natural disasters and crimes of violence or by law enforcement officers using weapons in the execution of their duties.

For patients who died of AIDS, their families may apply for the Support Fund for HIV / AIDS Patients and their Families, which provide burial grants for those in need.

Bereavement Support

The loss of someone close to you can generate emotions you find hard to deal with. The Department of Health offers practical advice on the management of grief and loss as a result of bereavement.

Memorial Service

The FEHD provides online memorial service through the “memorial.gov.hk” website. Members of the public may create memorial webpages for their lost loved ones who had used the cemeteries and cremation services provided by the department, or had their cremated ashes kept in public columbaria, or scattered in Gardens of Remembrance or at designated Hong Kong waters. This service enables you to pay tribute and express condolences to your lost loved ones anytime, anywhere. Mobile version provides a simple and user-friendly interface to access the website with mobile device.

If you want to know more about how to arrange for funerals, please refer to this leaflet.