Applications for over 18 000 new niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium to open from May 13

Unlock your future resting place: apply for one of 18,000 new niches at wo hop shek and cape collinson-san ha columbariums!

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (Aril 30) that more than 18 000 new extendable niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium in Fanling and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District will be open for applications from May 13 to June 12.

An FEHD spokesman said, "Under the new round of niche allocation exercise, the FEHD will allocate a total of 18 100 extendable niches, including 8 000 standard niches and 40 large niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI, as well as 10 000 standard niches and 60 large niches at Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium. The initial ash interment period for the allocated public niches is 20 years and can be extended at 10-year intervals thereafter. Upon expiry of the interment period, the persons concerned may continue to use the allocated niche provided that he/she extends the interment period and pays the prevailing prescribed fee."

Applicants should only file one application form to apply for either a large or standard niche for the same deceased person. When applying for a large niche, applicants have to fill in the particulars of at least three deceased people. For a standard niche, applicants must fill in at least one deceased person's particulars.

The spokesman said, "The FEHD will allocate niches by open drawing of lots and computer random balloting, which is expected to be held in the third quarter of this year, with the exact date to be announced later. After the drawing of lots and computer random balloting, the FEHD will inform applicants of the results of their applications and provide serial numbers of the designated niches allocated to successful applicants. The niches will not be chosen by applicants themselves."

Starting from May 13, public members can apply online or download the application form from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk). They can also obtain the application form in person from the Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD, or Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department, or by fax via hotline 2841 9111.

The spokesman advises applicants to submit their applications online to avoid postal delay. They can also receive an acknowledgement receipt with a case number shortly after the submission, thus facilitating the follow-up of the application in the future. If the applicant is the same person who has applied for cremation service for the deceased, it is more convenient to submit online application through "iAM Smart" without the need to attach copies of the required documents. If not submitting their application online, applicants shall submit the completed application form together with copies of the required documents by fax (2333 1716), by email (apply_newniche@fehd.gov.hk), by post or in person to the Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices within the application period.

The Talk on After-death Arrangements will be held at 10.30am on May 4 (Saturday) at Yau Tong Community Hall (No. 38 Ko Chiu Road, Yau Tong, Kowloon) to provide the public with more information on the coming public niche allocation, green burial facilities/services and regulation of private columbaria. The talk is free of charge and no prior registration is required.

For details of the arrangements of the niche allocation exercise and the information seminar, please visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk).

Source: AI-generated images

Creating flexible work solutions in the aftermath of severe weather events

The Labour Department (LD) today (May 21) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for employees after the cancellation of tropical cyclone warnings or rainstorm warnings, with due consideration to the road and traffic conditions and other factors, and make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work or work remotely (if applicable). This will help maintain good labour-management relations, and ensure the safety of employees as well as the smooth operation of organisations.

"For staff who have genuine difficulties in resuming work on time upon cancellation of a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning, employers should be sympathetic and handle each case flexibly. For example, employers may allow employees to resume work in stages, permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely (if applicable) or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work," an LD spokesman said.

The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.

"As natural calamities cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume duty on time due to adverse weather or 'extreme conditions', employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonus or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, or ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty," the spokesman said.

Employers should note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. Moreover, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" is in force.

The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).

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