Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (October 23) reminds grave sweepers to pay attention to special traffic and transport arrangements that will be implemented during the Chung Yeung Festival. The FEHD also reminds the public that the newly commissioned Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance in Sha Tin has established a “smoke-free worship” environment. The burning of joss sticks and paper offerings is strictly prohibited throughout the premises. The public is encouraged to pay tribute with fresh flowers instead of traditional offerings.
The newly constructed Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance at On Hing Lane, Shek Mun in Sha Tin commenced operations on September 26. With an area of about 24 000 square metres, the facility provides approximately 40 000 niches, a Garden of Remembrance for ash scattering covering about 3 110 square metres in area, and a Garden of Forever Love with 300 spaces for the placement of abortuses under 24 weeks of gestation. The services are now open for public application.
To ensure effective enforcement of the “smoke-free worship” requirement, the FEHD has introduced robots equipped with artificial intelligence to serve as “Smoke-free Ambassadors” and “Service Ambassadors”. “Smoke-Free Ambassadors” conduct daily patrols and will immediately alert staff and issue real-time broadcast warning messages to visitors upon detecting smoke or flames. Meanwhile, “Service Ambassadors” deliver mobile customer service and broadcasting information to visitors.
The architectural design of the Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance fully utilises the natural terrain and environmental features of the site. Plants and trees are arranged as natural barriers through landscape design, allowing the facilities to blend harmoniously with the surroundings, creating a tranquil, solemn and people-oriented environment that is both comfortable and convenient for the public.
The columbarium building adopts sustainable architectural design principles, incorporating natural lighting to minimise the impact on the natural landscape. The design features include a piazza, solar panels, a green rooftop and a rainwater recycling system for irrigation. The facility is also equipped with various energy-efficient installations and renewable energy technologies. Auxiliary facilities such as crutch hooks at service counters, baby care rooms, and barrier-free facilities are provided to cater to the diverse needs of visitors.
The FEHD has long been committed to promoting green burials and encouraging environmentally friendly handling of cremated ashes. The Shek Mun Garden of Remembrance features ash scattering lawns themed with various flowers and trees to create a natural landscape, complemented by commemorative plaques that offer visitors a serene and peaceful environment to mourn their beloved ones. The site also includes farewell and memorial facilities, such as a ceremonial room adorned with floral installations themed on “Four Seasons”, allowing families to conduct simple remembrance rituals prior to ash scattering. Additionally, the Serenity Pond, a Chinese-style imitation of a stone-textured water feature located beside the Garden of Remembrance and Garden of Forever Love, is piloting a memorial experience named “Connect by Folding”. Family members and friends may write blessings for the deceased on flower-shaped paper, fold them, and place them into the water as a symbolic gesture to express remembrance and affection for the deceased.
For more information about the Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance, please visit the FEHD webpage www.fehd.gov.hk.
Furthermore, the FEHD officially commissioned a Garden of Remembrance at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery yesterday (October 22), designated for the scattering of ashes from unclaimed bodies. Four pebble-paved trenches allow FEHD staff to scatter unclaimed ashes in a dignified manner. Commemorative plaques inscribed with the corresponding year and memorial facilities are also provided for public tribute and remembrance.