Living in Hong Kong 2016 - Custom, Religions and Festivals

Chapter 1

Custom, Religions and Festivals Hong Kong is a thriving, modern city that blends the old with the new. Old Hong Kong is kept alive with many cultural festivals held throughout the year which are enthusiastically attended by locals and visitors alike. Set this background to the modern facade of its skyscrapers and it is easy to see why the city has become home to many visitors from around the world.

CULTURE CUSTOM, RELIGIONS AND FESTIVALS

11 Hong Kong’s history spans centuries. Most recently, during excavation for the newest sections of the MTR network, wells and artifacts dating from the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD) were discovered. Such is the charm of this world city – ultra-modern, hyper-efficient and infinitely charming with a history that is centuries old. The modern history of Hong Kong started over 150 years ago. When Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula were ceded to the British at the culmination of the Opium Wars, no one could have imagined that the small fishing village and nascent port would develop into one of the world’s largest container terminals, global financial centers and top market for the art and wine industries.

Chinese rule, the city has been rediscovering itself. From the days of Bruce Lee and his movies, we have evolved, and our brilliant neon lights and breathtaking harbor views have been featured in many Hollywood blockbusters such as Blackhat, Transformers: Age of Extinction and Pacific Rim. Most of Hong Kong’s population of seven million people are of Chinese descent – around 92 percent – intermingled with a thriving international community speaking Cantonese, English and a multitude of other languages. Such an eclectic mix of people living and working in 25 percent of the total land area of just over 1,000 square kilometers makes the city a dynamic place where interesting things happen every day of the week.

Today, Hong Kong is a shining, cosmopolitan city and the gateway to Mainland China. Since Being part of the excitement requires some 1997, when Hong Kong, Kowloon and the knowledge about what makes Hong Kong New Territories were handed back over to

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special. Know its past and you will know its future. Hong Kong’s culture, history and festivals are a good starting place to find out what motivates its people and its commerce.

The Chinese Lunar Calendar The Chinese Lunar calendar reflects the culture of the Middle Kingdom. Although it is referenced as a “lunar” calendar, the Chinese calendar is actually based on astronomical observations of both the sun and the moon. In the Chinese calendar, each month is dictated by one cycle of the moon. This calendar is used by many other Asian cultures and in Chinese communities around the world, as well as in China and Hong Kong, to determine auspicious days for events, such as marriages and births, starting a business, holding a special family event and community festivals.

In China and Hong Kong, the Western calendar is used for all business-related purposes, while the Chinese calendar dictates

the days for the main Chinese holidays and festivals throughout the year.

The Chinese calendar is based on a 12-year cycle. Each year in the cycle is designated by an animal of the Chinese Zodiac. Each animal sign is further differentiated by the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Parents give considerable thought to when and specifically under which Chinese Zodiac sign they will have a child. It is believed that the year and the sign a child is born under affect their character, their personality and their fortune.

The Year of the Monkey arrives on February 8, 2016 The 2016 Year of the Monkey falls under the element of fire. The Monkey is quickwitted, curious and playful. Though a little mischievous, “Monkeys” are incredibly versatile, creative and adaptable people who thrive in an urban environment.

The Year of the Rooster arrives on January 28, 2017 The 2017 Year of the Rooster also falls under the element of fire. The Rooster is confident, honest, motivated, loyal and trustworthy. They can be pompous and blunt when giving their opinions which stems from their honesty trait.

They also expect honesty from others.

Culture of the Middle Kingdom Yin and Yang Since ancient times the Chinese have ascribed the movement of all matter and life forces to the constant pull of positive and negative sides of energy. They call these yin and yang, with both forces having good and bad aspects.

The Five Elements Fundamental to Oriental philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine are the five

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1

11 CULTURE CUSTOM, RELIGIONS AND FESTIVALS

Animals of the Chinese Zodiac Rat

Ox

鼠

牛

1912 1948 1984

1936 1972 2008

1913 1949 1985

1925 1961 1997

1937 1973 2009

Dragon

Snake

龍

蛇

1916 1952 1988

1928 1964 2000

1940 1976 2012

1917 1953 1989

1929 1965 2001

1941 1977 2013

Monkey

Rooster

猴

雞

1920 1956 1992

4

1924 1960 1996

1932 1968 2004

Living in Hong Kong

1944 1980 2016

1921 1957 1993

1933 1969 2005

1945 1981 2017

Tiger

Rabbit

虎

兔

1914 1950 1986

1926 1962 1998

1938 1974 2010

1915 1951 1987

1927 1963 1999

1939 1975 2011

Horse

Sheep

馬

羊

1918 1954 1990

1930 1966 2002

1942 1978 2014

1919 1955 1991

1931 1967 2003

1943 1979 2015

Dog

Pig

狗

豬

1922 1958 1994

1934 1970 2006

1946 1982 2018

1923 1935 1959 1971 1995 2007

CUSTOM, RELIGIONS AND FESTIVALS

1

1947 1983 2019

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11 basic elements representing various parts of the body: Wood (liver), Fire (heart), Earth (spleen), Metal (lungs) and Water (kidneys).

No one element is the strongest or weakest.

Each has its own place and function.

These elements are also used to provide more precise characteristics of the 12-year cycle represented by animal symbols of the Chinese Zodiac.

The People and Religion Population Although outwardly homogeneous, Chinese inhabitants of Hong Kong can generally be classified into five dialect groups: Hakka, Hoklo, Tanka, Shanghainese and indigenous Cantonese. The current population is a melting pot of permanent and nonpermanent residents and a small but significant population of mobile residents who come to Hong Kong for short periods of time. These residents include Indonesians, Indians, Nepalis, Persians, Portuguese, Thai, Filipino, British, Canadians, Americans, Australians, French, Eurasians and many more. In recent years, the most significant migrants are those from Mainland China.

Through various programs, many PRC nationals are coming to Hong Kong to live, study, shop, work and play.

Tung Shing The Chinese almanac, Tung Shing, is widely consulted whenever any life change is contemplated. It forms a traditional blend of superstition and belief, which is still greatly respected. Along with the traditional Asian religions of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, you’ll also find many locals who have turned to Western religions. Christianity has been a key religion in Hong Kong for many decades, and numerous Catholic and Protestant churches are located throughout the city. There is a large population of those

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from the Middle East and Southeast Asia who follow Islam, and there are several mosques in Hong Kong.

Taoism Taoism is a philosophical and ancient tradition and religious belief that is deeply rooted in the principles of living in harmony with the “Tao” or “the way”. The Tao is the force that is behind all things, and all things are unified by the Tao. Taoist priests supervise worship, officiate at marriages and burials, and advise on building locations and the placement of furnishings with Feng Shui. Taoist festivities are seen throughout the year on auspicious dates. The Tin Hau Temple and the Wong Tai Sin Temple, named after Taoist deities, are the best places to be during key festivals.

However, do expect that all these places will attract huge crowds during those days.

Taoist temples in Hong Kong include: • Che Kung Temple • Man Mo Temple • Tin Hau Temple • Wong Tai Sin Temple

Buddhism Buddha, born in 563 BC, taught compassion for all living things throughout his life.

Buddhism focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of insight, peace and enlightenment. It is one of the dominant beliefs in Hong Kong and China.

Buddha’s birthday is celebrated in Hong Kong with a general holiday and with many activities around the city, especially at the Po Lin Monastery. The Hong Kong Buddhist Association is the largest organization in Hong Kong; it provides charitable and social services to the public.

Buddhist temples in Hong Kong include: • Chi Lin Nunnery • Guan Yin Temple

The Sunday Examiner in English and Kung Kau Po in Chinese. www.catholic.org.hk Catholic Churches in Hong Kong include: • St Anne’s Parish • Star of the Sea Parish • Holy Cross Parish • St Jude’s Parish

The Protestant Church

• • • •

Lin Fa Temple Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery Po Lin Monastery Wong Tai Sin Temple

As well as these, there are many smaller places in Hong Kong that teach Buddhist meditation. One place that offers information to newcomers to Buddhism is the Buddhist Lodge of Laity on Queen’s Road in Central. www.laybuddhist.com

The Roman Catholic Church The Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong was established in 1841. There are 374,000 Catholics in Hong Kong. Services at most of the 51 parishes are conducted in Chinese; three-fifths of them also conduct services in English and in some, Tagalog for the Filipino community. The diocese runs Catholic schools and kindergartens providing education for thousands of students. The official welfare arm of the Hong Kong diocese is called Caritas. The diocese also publishes two weekly newspapers for the community,

With about 480,000 Protestant Christians in Hong Kong, the community comprises of 1,400 congregations and over 70 denominations. The Protestant community dates back to 1841 in Hong Kong and is committed to community service, education and social welfare. There are many denominations providing services.

The Baptists form the largest denomination, followed by Lutherans, Adventists, Anglicans, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Evangelical Free Church of China, Methodist, Pentecostal, Salvation Army and others.

Protestant organizations operate and run nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, seven hospitals and many social service organizations. Three post-secondary schools were founded

by Protestant organizations but are now independent, government-funded entities with no controlling ties to religious groups: Chung Chi College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and Lingnan University.

There are many Protestant churches all over Hong Kong. Apart from the many Chinese-language churches, there are ones that offer services in both English and Cantonese, while others use English as their predominant language. These range from small, traditional communities to large, modern mega-churches which offer lively services. Most of these bigger churches

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CULTURE CUSTOM, RELIGIONS AND FESTIVALS

11 have their own website where they post weekly schedules. Some even have their own in-church social networking sites. The Protestant community publishes two weekly newspapers: The Christian Weekly and The Christian Times.

Churches offering English services include: • Church of All Nations • Community Church • Discovery Bay International Community Church • Evangelical Community Church • Island Evangelical Community Church • Kowloon International Baptist Church • Shatin Church • Solomon’s Porch • St John’s Cathedral • The Vine • Watermark Church

Islam According to the most recent census, there are more than 300,000 Muslims living in Hong Kong. Of these, 30,000 are Chinese and many more are immigrants or migrant laborers from Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Middle East and Africa.

Charitable work in the Islamic community providing financial aid for the needy, medical care and education assistance is conducted through various Muslim organizations in the city. The Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association is the major organization representing Chinese Muslims in Hong Kong. The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong manages the masjids, Muslim cemeteries and a kindergarten in the city; it also certifies the supply of halal food in Hong Kong. www.iuhk.org Masjids available include: • Jamia Masjid

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• Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre • The Masjid and Islamic Centre

Judaism The Hong Kong Jewish community dates back to the 1840s. It comprises of families from various parts of the world who worship at three main synagogues. www.jcc.org.hk and www.ujc.org.hk Synagogues available include: • The Ohel Leah Synagogue • The Chabad Lubavitch • United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong

Holidays and Festivals There are five major festivals in the Chinese calendar. The Lunar New Year is the most significant. The other festivals include Ching Ming in spring, Dragon Boat in early summer, Mid-Autumn and Chung Yeung in the fall.

Along with the traditional Chinese festivals, a number of important religious festivals, including Good Friday, Easter, Buddha’s Birthday and Christmas are also listed as general holidays.

Hong Kong enjoys a total of 17 general holidays, which include both Chinese and Western festivals.

Holidays in Hong Kong are hugely anticipated.

Many will take the opportunity to travel abroad. Others will stay and enjoy visiting family, friends and the local sites. With so much to do, see and eat, Hong Kong offers something for everyone. One note is that if you plan to eat out during the holidays, remember to make advance bookings – expect a full house in most good and popular restaurants on any festival or holiday.

Chinese Lunar New Year The Chinese Lunar calendar is the longest

chronological record in history, dating from 2637 BC when Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of his zodiac in the 61st year of his reign. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each. The 78th cycle started in February 1984 and will end in February 2044.

This is the most important annual festival. In the past, most shops and businesses were closed for the festival. In recent years, many have changed and continue business-asusual to capitalize on the tourist market and on local consumers who prefer shopping to visiting relatives during the holiday.

The Chinese Lunar New Year holidays are probably the most competitive season for entertainment venues. Movie studios schedule their blockbusters for this time, as going to movies has become one the most common forms of entertainment, especially for young people and families. Theme parks and all tourist spots are packed to capacity.

So if you want to go to the movies or to any major destination during the holiday, advance booking is a must.

The exact date for the start of the lunar calendar varies yearly on the Western calendar. People clean their homes, pay respects to the Kitchen God and the shrines of their ancestors. Gifts are exchanged, and everyone must wear a new outfit. Families celebrate with huge banquets at home, and children, caretakers, doormen and such, receive lai see (“lucky money”) slipped into red envelopes stamped with gold characters for luck, wealth and happiness. Flowers, especially peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and narcissus, are in every home. Everyone greets people with “kung hei fat choy” (“good wishes, good fortune”), and “sun nihn fai lok” (“Happy New Year”). Chinese people like to wish each other prosperity and good health.

CUSTOM, RELIGIONS AND FESTIVALS

1 Lai See During the period before Chinese New Year, banks stock up on freshly printed bills so their customers can withdraw them to give out as “lai see” (lucky money). It is most auspicious to give out new, crisp bills. Banks and many other retailers will give out specially printed and designed lai see envelopes to their customers for free.

Locals and visitors give lai see (also called “red pocket money”) to service people, children and unmarried persons during the Chinese New Year period. The amount can be nominal, 10 or 20 dollars, or significant, such as a very lucky red-colored 100-dollar bill.

It is the time to put a smile on the face of someone, and especially to reward those who serve, with lai see. It is really the spirit of giving that is the key, and it is greatly appreciated by the receiver. Elderly Chinese grandmothers, grandfathers, matriarchs and patriarchs will get stacks of lai see packets ready to give out to everyone.

The boss or owner of a company will give staff lai see on the first day of work after the holiday as a gesture of appreciation and to welcome them back.

Even your favorite bus drivers should get lai see, so remember to get your lai see envelopes ready!

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11 For several days before Chinese New Year, there are huge flower fairs in various areas of Kowloon, the New Territories and Hong Kong Island. The largest is at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. These are wonderful experiences if you love crowds. On the eve of the first day of the holiday, the fairs last all night. They are the most crowded, and prices come down in the wee hours. It’s quite a happy scene of families, people haggling over prices, brilliant lights, food, sweets, ice cream and children carrying loads of flowers and toys bigger than themselves.

Hawkers and New Territories gardeners sell thousands of potted plants, fresh flowers and tree branches during the four days they remain open. If the plants bloom on New Year’s Day, it is considered especially fortunate.

A Lunar New Year highlight each year includes the Chinese New Year night parade held on the first day of the New Year at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. It starts from the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and features dozens of dancers and specially designed floats sponsored by companies and organizations from around the world.

Lunar New Year Cup A recent tradition celebrates the game of football, with matches played as a highlight of the Chinese New Year holidays at Hong Kong Stadium. Hong Kong’s resident squad plays against three international teams for the Lunar New Year Cup. This has become an annual occasion for local fans to meet superstar footballers every year. www.hkfa.com On the second day of the New Year, a fireworks extravaganza is usually held at Victoria Harbour. Hundreds of thousands of

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revelers pack the two sides of the waterfront to enjoy the show. The best places to see the fireworks are in front of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and at the Cultural Centre waterfront. However, to get a good spot, you must go there hours before and stake out a good and comfortable spot. Crowd control procedures mean that access to these locations may be limited or closed off once it gets close to the start of the fireworks. Another option is to reserve a dinner or special evening at one of the many hotels and restaurants that have a harbor view; they will certainly have fireworksrelated special offers.

On the third day of the New Year, The Hong Kong Jockey Club hosts the traditional Race Day at the Sha Tin Racecourse to kick off the new racing year.

If you like culture, parties and fun, these events are not to be missed.

Lantern Festival (February 11, 2017) The Lantern Festival coincides with the “spring” festival and the first full moon of the first month of the new lunar year. In many parks and public spaces, brilliantly designed, crafted and brightly lit lanterns will adorn the streets and waterfronts around Hong Kong.

Look for the lanterns at the Cultural Centre Piazza, Kowloon Park and Victoria Park.

Easter March 25, 26 & 28 2016 / April 14, 17 & 18 2017) Hong Kong benefits from its colonial past with the celebration of all major Chinese and many Western holidays. Easter is celebrated with a long general holiday, typically only a month or two after the recent long Lunar New Year holidays. As a religious celebration, Christians in Hong Kong commemorate Easter with special services at churches of all denominations. For others, it is a muchwelcomed long weekend that will be enjoyed outdoors as the weather in Hong Kong turns warmer.

Ching Ming Festival (April 4, 2016 / April 5, 2017) Ching Ming is an important holiday, particularly for the older and more traditional people in the Chinese community, when they clean the graves of ancestors and leave food and wine for the spirits. Incense, paper money and all manner of elaborate clothing, cell phones, televisions, microwaves, chocolate, cigarettes and even mansions and pets, all made of paper, are burned supposedly to reach the dead, to ensure they are satisfied with their descendants, and are happy in heaven. Some say this exchange between the living and the dead is the most important feature of the Chinese ideological domain. Death does not terminate relationships of reciprocity among Chinese; it simply transforms these ties and often makes them stronger.

warned her parents in advance. In Hong Kong, thousands of boat people and tourists go to a large temple dedicated to her in Joss House Bay, where lion dances and parades are held and prayers are offered for good fishing in the future. The nearest MTR (subway) station is Po Lam. From Exit A, take the green minibus route 16 (Po Lam to Po Toi O) and get off at the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club. You will reach Joss House Bay by walking for about 10 minutes down the steps nearby.

Buddha’s Birthday (May 14, 2016 / May 3, 2017) Buddha’s Birthday is a relatively recent addition to the public holiday calendar in Hong Kong. Many Buddhist temples, especially the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, with the world’s largest seated outdoor Buddha, as well as the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Sha Tin and the Miu Fat Monastery in Tuen Mun will hold special ceremonies on this day.

Cheung Chau Bun Festival May 14, 2016 / May 3, 2017) One of the most anticipated events on the Hong Kong festivities calendar – the Taoist (Bun) festival, which is celebrated on Cheung Chau Island – is also held at the time of Buddha’s Birthday. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is celebrated for several days and includes a street parade, Chinese opera, and the soaring “bun towers” to

Tin Hau Festival (April 29, 2016 / April 19, 2017) A festival (but not a public holiday) that pays tribute to the most popular patron saint of fisher folk – Tin Hau, Goddess of Heaven. She is variously credited with being the daughter of a high official who helped distressed seamen, and the daughter of a Fukienese fisherman, who dreamed of danger and

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11 placate the spirits who, it is said, caused storms and plagues to befall Cheung Chau over 200 years ago.

Mid-Autumn Festival (September 15, 2016 / October 4, 2017) The Mid-Autumn Festival, sometimes referred to as the Moon Cake Festival, is an occasion for family gatherings and parties, with everyone eating moon cakes to commemorate an uprising in 14th century China against the Mongols, who ruled China.

Notice for timing of the revolt was sent on papers baked inside small cakes. Considered a great delicacy, the traditional cakes consist of a paste of ground sesame and lotus seeds, and sometimes a salted egg yolk, covered by pastry. All bakeries in Hong Kong produce the traditional moon cakes, as well as a wide variety of more modern versions with ingredients such as ice cream. The festival has also become an occasion for companies to give gifts, such as fruit baskets and boxes of moon cakes, to their special clients and business partners.

the second day of the Lunar New Year.

The holiday is always on October 1 and commemorates the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. In Hong Kong, one day off is given. However, in China, a weeklong break is expected, and all companies and factories are scheduled to shut down so workers may travel to their homes to spend the holiday with their family. It is the second major week-long holiday of the year; the first is the Lunar New Year / Spring Festival. In recent years, Mainland Chinese have taken the opportunity to spend their week-long holidays traveling to Hong Kong to sightsee and shop. Expect tough competition for tickets to major tourist attractions as well as heavy traffic during this time.

Chung Yeung Festival (October 9, 2016 / October 28, 2017) This is another major festival to remember the deceased, celebrated as it has been for 1,900 years, involving a kind of Chinese “Noah’s Ark” fable about a man who took his family to a high place to avoid floods and sickness. On this holiday, everyone climbs to mountaintops to ward off future disasters.

Buses to the Peak and the Peak Tram have endless waiting lines. This is also the second festival designated for people to visit and clean the graves of their ancestors.

Halloween (October 31)

National Day (October 1) National Day has been celebrated in Hong Kong from the year of the handover (1997).

One special feature of the National Day holiday is a fireworks display in Victoria Harbour at night. The display is always as spectacular as those presented on

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Though it is not a public holiday in Hong Kong, like many Western festivals, Hong Kong has embraced the day for revelers to dress up in costumes and have a reason to party. The Halloween celebration in Hong Kong is found at many bars and restaurants. You will also find a host of Halloween-themed events in Hong Kong, such as Haunted Halloween at Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Halloween Bash, and spontaneous Halloween parties in Lan Kwai Fong, Soho, Tsim Sha Tsui and other night spots throughout Hong Kong.

CUSTOM, RELIGIONS AND FESTIVALS

1 General Holidays 2016 The first day of January Lunar New Year’s Day The second day of Lunar New Year The third day of Lunar New Year Good Friday Easter Monday Ching Ming Festival Labor Day Labor Day observed The Birthday of the Buddha

January 1 February 8 February 9 February 10 March 25 March 28 April 4 May 1 May 2 May 14

Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Monday Monday Sunday Monday Saturday

Tuen Ng Festival

June 9

Thursday

Special Administrative Region Establishment Day Day after Mid Autumn Festival National Day Chung Yueng Festival Christmas Day The first weekday after Christmas Day The second weekday after Christmas Day

July 1

Friday

September 16 October 1 October 9 December 25 December 26 December 27

Friday Saturday Sunday Sunday Monday Tuesday

2017 The first day of January

January 1

Sunday

Lunar New Year’s Day The second day of Lunar New Year The third day of Lunar New Year Ching Ming Festival Good Friday Easter Monday Labor Day Labor Day observed The Birthday of the Buddha Tuen Ng Festival

January 28 January 29 January 30 April 5 April 14 April 17 May 1 May 2 May 3 May 30

Saturday Sunday Monday Wednesday Friday Monday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Tuesday

Special Administrative Region Establishment Day National Day Day after Mid Autumn Festival Chung Yueng Festival Christmas Day

July 1

Saturday

October 1 October 5 October 28 December 25

Sunday Thursday Saturday Monday

The first weekday after Christmas Day

December 26

Tuesday

www.gov.hk

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11 extended break, many people will take the opportunity to go on a long holiday, visit family living abroad or go back “home.”

Departures Cemeteries and Funeral Parlors Death being a taboo subject in Chinese culture, it is not easy to find information on cemeteries and funeral parlors in Hong Kong.

Most modern funeral parlors in Hong Kong cater for both religious and nondenominational funerals of all kinds. Certain hospitals also have a memorial hall for private ceremonies.

Christmas (December 25 & 26) Christmas is no doubt one of the most important and most anticipated holidays in Hong Kong. Christmas day and the day after are official rest days, although retailers remain open on both days. Christmas is a magical time in Hong Kong. Traditionally, decorations throughout the city will spring up in late November, especially at retail shops selling seasonal goods. Office buildings hang Christmas lights with seasonal greetings illuminating both sides of Victoria Harbour, and a huge Christmas tree shines and sparkles in Central, enhancing the city’s festive ambiance. Malls and shops are decked out in fantastic Christmas finery, heralding holiday greetings and beckoning one and all with wonderful seasonal promotions. Expect to see Christmas carol singers performing at tourist spots, spreading an inspirational message of peace and happiness.

There are two categories of cemeteries and crematoria in Hong Kong: government-run public cemeteries and private cemeteries. A portion of the latter category may be affiliated with specific religions. Another detail to note is the price difference of burial plots between these two types of cemeteries.

The Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley is located adjacent to other cemeteries of specific religions: The Hindu Cemetery, The Jewish Cemetery, Hong Kong Parsee Cemetery, St Michael’s Catholic Cemetery and The Muslim Cemetery. The Hong Kong Christian Churches Union Pok Fu Lam Road Cemetery is located on the Island.

Most cemeteries in Hong Kong provide both coffin burial plots and niches for cremated ashes. But due to the small land size in Hong Kong, coffin burial plots have become very limited, and the same applies to niches.

There is currently an allocation system for these niches.

New Year (January 1) Again Hong Kong is fortunate to celebrate both the Chinese and Western New Years.

Being so close to the Christmas holidays and with school traditionally closed for an

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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department provides details on cemeteries, crematoria and a list of licensed undertakers and funeral parlors. www.fehd.gov.hk