Shaling columbarium raises controversy, planners point out that it is difficult to choose funeral sites for residents: the elderly have urgent needs

Social News

Written by: Chen Shuxia and Ouyang Dehao

2021-04-11 22:49

Last update date: 2021-04-11 22:49

The Hong Kong government plans to expand the Shaling cemetery hundreds of meters away from Shenzhen Luohu. The "through-train" provides funeral services. Only the establishment has expressed opposition, questioning the Hong Kong government's failure to consider the feelings of the people in Shenzhen, and criticizing the authorities for planning mistakes. Development of the Bay Area.

Some urban planners believe that the selection of funeral sites has always been a thorny issue. The Chinese hold traditional conservative ideas and keep away from columbariums or cemeteries. Concern groups have pointed out that the Hong Kong government has owed funeral planning in the past, and the Shaling project is the Hong Kong government’s "chase". The important process of "being behind" will be able to support the mid- to long-term niche demand in the future.

Some Fanling residents support the expansion and believe that there is an urgent need for the elderly, but there are also citizens who believe that public housing should be given way.

The construction of the Shaling Cemetery is in full swing. Most of the top of the hill on which the site is located has been flattened, and the retaining wall of the hillside has also been completed. In the distance, you can see the Luohu Commercial City and the Shenzhen Railway Station Building.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

After the expansion of the Shaling Cemetery, it will provide about 200,000 columbarium niches. It will also include crematoriums and funeral homes. It will be the largest public facility of its kind in Hong Kong so far. It used to have the title of "super cemetery".

Looking through the information, the government successively submitted the preliminary funding for the project to the Public Works Panel and the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for deliberation in 2017. Both were supported by the pro-establishment and pan-democratic cross-party parties. However, some pro-establishment MPs "reverted" and requested the Hong Kong government Stopped, and explained that the support back then was unknown and there was a plan for the Greater Bay Area.

Concern groups: Zhong's follow up behind

Xie Shijie, the convenor of the Coalition Concerning the Columbarium Act, said that the Hong Kong government has not faced up to the shortage of niches in the past, which has caused chaos in the industry.

He mentioned that the former Chief Executive Donald Tsang proposed the "district niches" policy when he was in office. He advocated the establishment of 24 district niches in the 18 districts, and included the mid- and long-term supply in the planning. Set out the chaos anyway, but the secondary line is chasing behind.” He said bluntly that if the expansion project is stopped, it is equivalent to the overturning of a 10-year-old project. He is worried that the supply of niches in the medium to long term will be disrupted in the future. "

He also pointed out that Shaling itself is a cemetery. This time, it is being expanded at its original location. Although there are transportation problems that need to be resolved, the niches in other areas are located close to residential buildings and are constructed in a pin-in type. Both Shimen and Shimen have objections, but the residents will take care of the overall situation."

The government estimates that 75 hectares of land will be needed to house ashes in the future

Xie Shijie continued to point out that many areas in Hong Kong have either built additional columbariums or have been opened for use, including Wo Hop Shek, Shek Mun and Tseng Tsui, Tuen Mun. However, based on the number of deaths and cremation used in Hong Kong, the annual demand for columbaria is about 40,000, and the newly built columbarium will be completely digested in the next 10 years.

He also mentioned that the "Hong Kong 2030+" research report proposed by the Land Supply Task Force showed that the columbarium niches exceeded the land demand of 75 hectares. He believed that relevant land needs to be reserved in the new development area, but distant waters could not save nearby fires. "It's been 10 years since I got up."

Location map of Shaling Cemetery and its extension (data picture)

Regarding Shaling being described as a "super funeral city", he thinks it is an exaggeration. Although there will be funeral homes and crematoriums, there are only about 40,000 more niches than the Tseng Tsui columbarium in Tuen Mun. The establishment suddenly opposed it. He bluntly felt baffled and worried that the Hong Kong government would eventually become a "soft-footed crab" and be at the mercy of others.

Planner: Disputes are related to cultural and customs matters, so difficult to resolve

Du Liji, former vice-president of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners and urban planner, pointed out that the Chinese have traditional and conservative ideas and keep away from columbarium or cemetery. It was difficult to intervene in urban planning if it was previously set up.

He also pointed out that the authorities have tried their best to cooperate to resolve the difficulties, including special traffic arrangements during the Spring and Autumn Festival, and the introduction of design during the construction of another building to reduce the perception of anxiety. He emphasized that disputes over funeral venues are not new, and they are not. It's about space issues, "and it's about cultural customs. Disputes are hard to resolve without changing in one day."

Looking at the information, many large-scale landfills in Hong Kong are close to residential buildings, such as the Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery, Happy Valley Hong Kong Cemetery, Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery, etc. The landscapes of many large housing estates are "aligned" with the cemetery scenes.

Mr. Jiang said that he is not worried that the expansion will affect the people's livelihood in the district and believes that there is an urgent need for construction.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

Mr. Jiang, a resident of Fanling, said that he is not worried that the expansion of Shaling will affect the livelihood of the people in the district. He believes that the elderly have an urgent need for this. He pointed out that after the death of many citizens, their ashes can only be placed in their homes or niches. You have to fight around." He also suggested that the government can plan to build half of the scale first, and then consider the response of the community.

I asked whether the construction of a funeral and burial ground was a waste of land because the place is connected to Shenzhen.

Mr. Jiang believes that there is a shortage of housing supply in Hong Kong. Instead of developing related facilities in Shenzhen, it is better to build houses first.

Ms. Li believes that the demand for housing is greater than for funeral homes.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

Ms. Li is also concerned about the housing problem and believes that the demand for housing is greater than that of funeral homes.

"We are going to clarify, not to contact Shenzhen, but to solve the people's livelihood." She suggested making good use of the land development in the North District, such as Queensland, Kutong, etc.

As for other transportation facilities and other issues, the government can then think of ways to solve them.

Ms. Yao is in favor of the construction of funeral burial grounds, criticizing the society is full of opposition voices, "If you can't talk about it, you can't talk about it. Hong Kong lacks a burial place (burial place)." She pointed out that she is currently waiting for a columbarium niche. It will take many years. It is expected that the population of Hong Kong will be aging and the demand will be more urgent in the future. It is recommended that ashes be scattered in gardens or at sea to save land resources.

Ms. Yao supports the construction of funeral homes. It takes many years to wait for columbarium niches. It is expected that the population of Hong Kong is aging and the future needs will become more urgent.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

The Food and Health Bureau responded earlier that it attaches great importance to the concerns of Shenzhen and has re-examined the design. The cremation and funeral home facilities in the development project will be relocated to a nearby valley, and the ground and roof will be greened and the exterior wall of the building will be vertical. Greening.

In addition, the buildings will also be designed to match the height of the nearby natural environment, using topography and mountain terrain to minimize the landscape impact of the facilities, and to ensure that the impact of the facilities on the surrounding residents of Hong Kong and Shenzhen is minimized.

The authorities also pointed out that after obtaining funding from the Legislative Council, the preliminary works have started for more than three years and will be completed later this year. If the project fails to proceed as planned, it will seriously affect the supply of mid- and long-term funeral services in Hong Kong. Related infrastructure will also face long-term idleness.

Citizens oppose Shaling Funeral City and propose 18 districts to build electronic and automated niches to make good use of space

Shaling Funeral City︱Chen Keqin denounces improper planning to reduce the scale of the columbarium

Hong Kong's Shaling Funeral City is only 300 meters away from Shenzhen’s central district, mainland YouTubers denounce: lack of empathy

01News

COVID-19 Food and Health Bureau