FEDH offered free ferry service to support sea burial
source: Oncc
translated by cici@Asianeu

Person assisting depatures presiding over the ash scattering memorial service


family spreading ashes


In order to ease Hong Kong's long-standing problem of ash niches shortage, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department strengthened promotion of the sea burial; starting yesterday, FEHD offered a ferry every Saturday for free to pick up members of the public to the east of Tung Lung Chau and six families first set sail yesterday.

Due to high cost of hiring private boats which cost 2000 to 4000 dollars, FEDH launched a special free ferry service with annual expenditure of about 180,000 dollars and FEDH estimated it could handle nearly 500 applications. So far, reception was quite well. For some families, they chose sea burial due to love of nature and wanted to adopt a more environmental friendly ceremony, therefore they already decided for sea burial during their lifetimes. One woman said, "grave visiting is usually this or next 2 generations ritual. Population continues to rise in this world, instead of occupying land after death, why not leave land for future generations." While others chose sea burial due to financial reasons, Ms. Lau said realizing an ash niche cost up to 100,000 to 200,000 dollars and her family couldn't afford to buy one, she had to put a lot of effort to persuade her elders to accept sea burial. Ms. Lau was satisfied with FEDH providing free ferry service and believing the younger generation would embrace sea burial.

The entire trip to east of Tung Lung Chau was 35 minutes and each family could bring up to 8 persons. Under FEDH arrangement with a person assisting departures, families performed a simple ritual and each family could light 3 incenses but not burned joss papers or candles. Afterward, families could start spreading ashes to sea and families could throw a small amount of flower to sea as well. FEDH also provided a special tube to spread ashes so that ashes could safely land in sea instead of being blown away by windy weather in Tung Lung Chau.

This post has been edited by cici: Feb 8 2010, 03:29 AM