These rules govern applications for private lots in certain cemeteries, who may use them, and the conditions for burials and urn burials.
Wo Hop Shek, Sandy Ridge and Sandy Ridge (Urn) Cemeteries, Private Lots, Rules(Cap. 132, section 117) [30 March 1961](Format changes—E.R. 4 of 2019) 1. Citation These rules may be cited as the Wo Hop Shek, Sandy Ridge and Sandy Ridge (Urn) Cemeteries, Private Lots, Rules. 2. Interpretation In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires—Director (署長) means the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene; (78 of 1999 s. 7)private lot (私人地段) means any part of a public cemetery which is set aside or allocated by the Director, acting under the powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Cemeteries Regulation (Cap. 132 sub. leg. BI) for the reception of the human remains of particular persons or of persons belonging to any particular community, race or religion. (L.N. 121 of 1975; 78 of 1999 s. 7; E.R. 4 of 2019)(L.N. 67 of 1985; 78 of 1999 s. 7) 3. Application for private lots (1) Application for private lots in the Wo Hop Shek Cemetery, the Sandy Ridge Cemetery or the Sandy Ridge (Urn) Cemetery may be made in writing to the Director by any association or group of persons which requires its dead to be buried together in community therein. (L.N. 67 of 1985; 10 of 1986 s. 32)(2) Such applications may be granted or refused by the Director in his discretion and, if granted, may be subject to such conditions or restrictions as he may think fit to impose. (L.N. 67 of 1985; 10 of 1986 s. 32) (3) Approval of any application made under paragraph (1) shall not convey to the applicant association or group—(a) any right of property in or control over the private lot allocated; nor (b) any right to permanent burial of the dead in such private lot; nor (c) any right to cause to be buried in such private lot any person other than a member of the applicant association or group or a relative of a member; nor (d) any exemption from the payment of fees or any other requirement for the time being prescribed by any enactment relating to the burial of the dead.(78 of 1999 s. 7) 4. Development and maintenance of private lots (1) The general development and maintenance, including in particular the construction and maintenance of terracing, drainage and necessary access paths, shall be the responsibility of Government and shall be carried out at the public expense. (2) In addition and without prejudice to any works executed in furtherance of paragraph (1), the association or group of persons to which any private lot is for the time being allocated may at its own expense carry out such other works of improvement, amenity or decoration as the Director may in his discretion permit: Provided— (a) that the permission of the Director is granted prior to the commencement of any such works; and (b) the maintenance of such works shall be a charge upon such association or group and shall be carried out from time to time to the satisfaction of the Director. (L.N. 67 of 1985; 10 of 1986 s. 32; 78 of 1999 s. 7) 5. Admission to burial No human remains shall be admitted to burial in any private lot except upon receipt by the Director of an application in writing signed by a person for the time being authorized by the association or group of persons to which such private lot stands allocated— (L.N. 67 of 1985; 10 of 1986 s. 32; 78 of 1999 s. 7)(a) requesting that such remains be admitted to burial therein; and (b) declaring that to the best of his knowledge and belief such remains are those of a member of such association or group or those of a relative of a member thereof. 6. Special conditions relating to urn burials In the case of urn burials in any private lot, except by prior arrangement with the Director in special cases—(a) the relatives of the deceased or their agents must provide all necessary bearers, labour and equipment required to carry out the burial in such decent manner as the Director may approve; (b) no urn space shall exceed a surface area of 900 × 900 mm; (L.N. 89 of 1979) (c) each burial shall be carried out in conformity with the most economical sequence of grave spaces having regard to the shape and size of the private lot in question; and (d) within 14 days after each interment, a headstone, identifying the deceased, shall be erected by the relatives of the deceased or their agents, failing which the urn in question and its contents will be subject to transfer from the private lot into such other part of the cemetery as the Director may think fit. (L.N. 67 of 1985; 10 of 1986 s. 32; 78 of 1999 s. 7)