Located in Tsing Yi Street, Xishan, part of the location is the government's "approved funeral area", and there have always been many mountain graves.
However, some nearby residents found that the number of mountain tombs is increasing, some of which are beyond the government's approved range. In order to build mountain tombs, some workers even opened mountain roads, cut down trees, and used crawler vehicles to transport building materials up the mountain to build the tombs.
The reporter went up to the mountain to learn about the situation with neighboring residents a few days ago, and found that many mountain tombs deviate from the approved range, and many materials, such as bricks, are placed on the mountain.
Some residents criticized that the government did not limit the size of the mountain tombs within the scope of approval, and some of them would build benches. There was even a mountain tomb at the scene, which was suspected to have multiple columbarium niches.
The Home Affairs Department said in a reply early last month that it could not determine the extent of the mountain tomb involved.
A month later, the department added in its reply today (5th) that it has checked through different channels whether the graves in question existed in 1983 or before, and whether the deceased were indigenous residents, etc. for further follow-up, but no positive results were found. Respond to whether there is a mountain tomb "stepping over the boundary".
The Ombudsman has twice named the burial area
The Office of The Ombudsman has twice criticized the regulatory issues of "approved funeral districts" in the past, including unclear powers and responsibilities, multiple political divisions, reluctance among departments to cooperate with each other, and loose enforcement of illegal burials, allowing those involved to continue Violations, without paying any price, believe that the department should strengthen the crackdown on illegal funerals.
Located in the small hill of Castle Peak, part of the area belongs to the "approved funeral area", and there are many mountain graves in this area.
Looking through the information, the government has implemented the "Mountainside Funeral Policy" since 1983, and has designated some rural areas as "recognized burial areas" for the burial of indigenous New Territories residents after their death.
According to the existing policy, after the death of the original residents, the identity of the village representatives or the township committee must be confirmed, and the descendants can apply to the Civil Affairs Office for a funeral permit.
Approved Funeral District in Xishan, Tsing Yi (Photo by Leung Peng Wai)
After being named and criticized by the Ombudsman, the government erected boundary markers in the "approved burial area" to prevent people from being "burial outside the bounds" because they were not clear about the area.
However, some residents in Tsing Yi found that there were still many mountain tombs outside the scope of the plinth, and some workers continued to destroy the environment of the small mountains. Plants for crawler vehicles to transport construction materials.
+10
4 years ago someone broke the law
The "Hong Kong 01" reporter and residents went to the scene to learn about the situation earlier. Starting from the Tsing Yi Hill Walk, beside the regular stone-stepped mountain path, there was an undulating dirt road with no grass and sandbags in some places.
According to clips provided by residents, construction workers transported construction materials on crawler vehicles along the road.
Judy, a resident of Tsing Wah Court, a neighboring housing estate, said that about 3 to 4 years ago, someone had "opened the road". When the crawler vehicles could not move forward, they would place sandbags to pave the way.
At the scene, trees and railings were hung on the Lands Department, indicating that the road was "unlawfully occupied and unleased land." The notice was posted on March 23; there was also a notice from the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, reminding not to destroy the trees in any way.
The path is full of gravel and gravel. Judy said that people have cut down trees in the past, and some residents have complained about related issues, but the government staff replied that they had not witnessed the process with their own eyes. Even if they provided photos and videos to testify, they were still unable to follow up.
She said frankly that she is worried that the situation will cause soil erosion and increase the risk of landslides.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: No suspicious persons were found during the inspection, but it was confirmed that trees were cut down
The AFCD replied that in the past three years, it had received seven complaints about suspected illegal tree felling in Xishan.
The department continued to point out that after receiving the complaint earlier, it dispatched officers to the scene several times to investigate and found that trees were felled on the government land there, but no suspicious persons were found.
The department continued that staff had posted warning notices there that it would be an offence for anyone to cut down trees on government land without legal authority or excuse.
Mountain graves turned into small columbaria
If you continue to walk on the mountain road, you will enter the "approved funeral area". The authorities have erected boundary markers, and you can see many mountain graves at the scene.
According to a 2015 report by the Office of Complaints, one of the problems with the burial area is the lack of restrictions on the size of the cemetery.
The reporter found that there are tables and chairs next to many mountain tombs. One of the mountain tombs is like a small hut. The outside is covered with reflective paper. However, upon closer inspection, it is suspected that it is a columbarium niche. There are 45 places in total, which looks like a small columbarium. Niches, but only one place was occupied at the time.
In response to the suspected "columbar space", the Home Affairs Department stated that, after inspection, it was confirmed that the tomb did not violate the burial permit of each approved burial area, allowing only one specified deceased to be burial.
In other words, it is possible to violate the regulations only after new ashes are "come in".
Later, on the way down the mountain, the reporter again found the boundary line of the funeral area. Some of the tombs were located near the pillars, so it was difficult to judge whether they were outside the boundary.
However, if we went further, we found that there were dozens of mountain tombs far away from the pillars. Most of the deceased died after 1983. It is believed that the mountain tombs were built after 1983, that is, the "Mountainside Funeral Policy" has come into effect. The tomb must be built in the funeral area.
+6
The reporter later found a tin hut behind the grass next to the suspected "out of bounds" mountain tomb, with construction supplies, such as white electric oil, inside.
In fact, the reporter found bricks, white oil and other building materials from time to time along the road.
The Lands Department replied that it was following up on the hut where building materials were placed. If it is illegal occupation of government land, the prescription will take enforcement action.
Judy said that in the past, other residents even found that there were cooking utensils on the mountain, and they were cooking on the mountain.
She also pointed out that one of the locations at the foot of the mountain was originally managed by Qinghua Court, but before someone placed building materials, the original natural slope was covered with concrete.
According to residents, since last year, they have complained to different departments for the above problems many times, but have not received a positive response.
The Kwai Tsing District Office responded to the inquiries related to "Hong Kong 01" early last month, stating that it received an inquiry from the Lands Department on the location of the mountain tomb on March 30, but it was unable to determine whether the mountain tomb in question was located in an approved funeral area.
+2
When the Home Affairs Department responded today, it also did not directly respond to whether there was an "out-of-bounds burial". It only pointed out that the Kwai Tsing District Office and the Lands Office had conducted on-site inspections three times this year. Existing, and whether the ancestors are indigenous residents, etc., for further follow-up.
The Home Affairs Department also stated that as of July 23 last year, the number of graves or urn within the above-mentioned burial area boundary was 287 recognized burial areas.
The department also pointed out that, in conjunction with different relevant law enforcement agencies, including the Lands Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, etc., to jointly manage the funeral areas, when handling complaints about out-of-bounds funerals, the authorities will first investigate whether the tombs or urn belong to For illegal funerals, contact the descendants according to the information and ask them to start the relocation work. If no progress is made, the Lands Department and the FEHD can remove the relevant tombs or urn according to their authority.
Illegal mountain graves are spread over one-third of country parks. The group index number is far from reflecting the reality. Longji has discovered illegal mountain tombs. Ma On Shan has become the hardest-hit area in the park. Cape Collinson's abortion facility is expected to open by the end of the year. It will provide 400 placement sites.