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When Death Occurs

Registration of a Death

In Hong Kong, death can be divided into two categories: “natural death” and “unnatural death”

Natural Death

A natural death is caused by death at hospitals in Hong Kong after more than 24 hours of admission, if the cause of death is clear or due to death from the relevant medical records. The registered doctor who finally diagnoses and determines the cause of death of the deceased will issue the following death documents to the family of the deceased:

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- Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death [Form 18]

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- Medical Certificate (Cremation) [Form 2] (applicable to cremation)

 

For public convenience, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Immigration Department and Department of Health have set up the Joint Office to handle cases of death from natural causes. Members of the public can

register a death, apply and arrange for cremation or obtain the certificate for burial application at the same place.

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Hong Kong Island Office

18/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

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Formed by:

Deaths Registry of Immigration Department

Tel: 2961 8841

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Port Health Office of Department of Health

Tel: 2961 8843

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Cremation Booking Office of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

Tel: 2961 8842

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Kowloon Office

1/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon.

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Formed by:

Deaths Registry of Immigration Department

Tel: 2368 4706

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Port Health Office of Department of Health

Tel: 2150 7232

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Cremation Booking Office of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

Tel: 2150 7502

Unnatural cause

Circumstances such as the deceased was not attended by a registered medical practitioner before death or death resulted from accident, poison or violence, etc..

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Depending on circumstances, the Coroner may (before the cause of death is determined) order the body be buried or cremated and issue the following document:

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- “Certificate of Order Authorizing Burial/Cremation of Body” [Form 11]

(commonly known as “burial order” or “cremation order”).

Application for Burial

Public Cemeteries

According to the prevailing requirements, the remains must be exhumed six years after burial in a public cemetery.

Coffin burial spaces are available for application at the following public cemeteries managed by Food and Environmental Hygiene Department:

  1. Wo Hop Shek Cemetery（Tel: 2675 5296）

  2. Cheung Chau Cemetery（Tel: 2981 5442）

  3. Tai O Cemetery（Tel: 2852 3606）

  4. Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery at Mui Wo（Tel: 2852 3606）

Private Cemeteries

There are two types of graves in private cemeteries, including permanent graves and those which require timely “exhumation”. Enquiries about the application for a grave space in a private cemetery and details of charges should be made direct to the management of the cemetery concerned.

Private cemeteries include the following:

  1. Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery

  2. Cape Collinson Chinese Permanent Cemetery

  3. Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery

  4. Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery

Application for Cremation

Upon issue of the “Certificate of Registration of Death” [Form 12] (commonly known as “going-out pass”) by the Joint Office, the applicant may also apply for the “Cremation Permit” [Form 3] at the same office.

Also, cremation can be arranged without the “Cremation Permit” [Form 3] if the “Certificate of Order Authorizing Cremation of Body” [Form 11] (commonly known as “cremation order”) has been issued by the Coroner.

Booking of Cremation Session

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The particulars of the hired licensed undertaker must be provided in the application form, which must also be stamped with the undertaker’s chop recognised by Food and Environmental Hygiene Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will provide an unallocated cremation session within the next 15 days from the day of application. When fixing the date of cremation, the applicant must ensure that the time for funeral procession ties in with the booked cremation session. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department operates a chit system to facilitate the booking of cremation sessions at the counter.

Particulars of the 6 Crematoria under Food and Environmental Hygiene Department:

  1. ​Cape Collinson Crematorium - 9 Cape Collinson Road,Chai Wan, Hong Kong.   Tel: 2556 1377

  2. Diamond Hill Crematorium - 199 Po Kong Village Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon.   Tel: 2325 9996

  3. Fu Shan Crematorium - Lower Shing Mun Road, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, N.T..   Tel: 2699 5090

  4. Kwai Chung Crematorium - 13 Wing Hau Street, Kwai Chung, N.T..   Tel: 2614 4390

  5. Wo Hop Shek Crematorium - Kiu Tau Road, Wo Hop Shek, Fanling, N.T..   Tel: 2675 5200

  6. Cheung Chau Crematorium - Cheung Chau Peak Road West, Sai Wan, Cheung Chau.   Tel: 2981 5177

Arrangements for a Funeral

If the deceased passed away in a hospital, the relatives may consider to engage a licensed undertaker to arrange farewell service in the hospital. In general, farewell services in the hospital are available only to patients who passed away in that hospital. Most hospitals have farewell rooms (or similar rooms) for the relatives to hold simple memorial rites. Afterwards, the body will be transported directly to a crematorium or cemetery for cremation or burial.

Hospitals which provide farewell room (and their telephone numbers for enquiries) are listed below:

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Hong Kong Island East

  • Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital

  • Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals

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Hong Kong Island West

  • Grantham Hospital

  • Queen Mary Hospital

  • Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fung Yiu King Hospital

 

Kowloon Central

  • Buddhist Hospital

  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital

 

Kowloon East

  • Tseung Kwan O Hospital

  • United Christian Hospital

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Kowloon West

  • Caritas Medical Centre

  • Kwong Wah Hospital

  • Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital

  • Yan Chai Hospital

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N.T. East

  • Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital

  • North District Hospital

  • Prince of Wales Hospital

  • Shatin Hospital

 

N.T. West

  • Pok Oi Hospital

  • Tuen Mun Hospital

The present 7 licensed funeral parlours in Hong Kong for renting of service hall and mortuary facilities in a funeral parlour, the relatives may engage a licensed undertaker for the arrangements or make enquiries direct to the funeral parlours.

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Should the funerals of religious believers are to be held in religious venues, please contact the religious group concerned directly for details, or engage a licensed undertaker to make the arrangements.

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