Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan officiated at the Green Burial Campaign Launch Ceremony today to unveil a series of promotional activities, encouraging the public to choose the environmental sustainable option.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Tse said that efforts are being made by the Government to promote green burial as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable means of handling human ashes. Over the past decade, the prevalence of green burial has significantly increased. The number of green burial cases increased almost three-fold from about 3,400 in 2013 to about 9,400 in 2022.

He encouraged the public to make early planning of end of life, including signing up for the Green Burial Central Register to register their wish for green burial and making it known to their families. The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will follow up appropriately if the deceased is identified on the register when their family books a cremation.

Currently, there are 13 Gardens of Remembrance under the department’s management. Another garden will be located in the Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin which is expected to be completed and commissioned by 2025.

In line with the Government’s strategy in promoting the adoption of e-services, the department will set up a one-stop burial portal to facilitate online applications for green burial services.