Consumers to get better understanding of private columbariums, says health chief

A voluntary registration system will be set up to make information about private columbariums more transparent to protect consumers' rights, the health chief said yesterday.

The move came after recent land-lease disputes over whether human ashes should be regarded as human remains. The disagreements involved two private columbarium operators in Sha Tin - Memorial Park Hong Kong and Sai Lam Temple - and a private cemetery on Ma Shi Chau.

The cases have sparked public concern about the legitimacy of private columbariums, and whether people who have bought urns from them are legally protected.

Secretary for Food and Health Dr York Chow Yat-ngok said in the Legislative Council: 'To enhance the public's confidence, the government will look into ways to increase the transparency in this regard in joint efforts with the trade by, for instance, setting up a voluntary registration system to make the information more transparent with a view to enhancing consumer protection.'

Chow and the Food and Health Bureau did not give details about the registration system.

Chow said the definition of human remains did not include ashes resulting from the cremation of bodies, under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance. But that interpretation was not applicable in private contracts, he said.

'Tenancy leases, land leases or deeds of mutual covenant are private contracts and should be made in accordance with the rules of interpreting private contracts, and must not be treated regardless of the context.'