Number of green burials quadruples over past decade as Hong Kong authorities look to promote scattering of ashes in designated gardens, sea

The number of Hongkongers choosing green burials over traditional ones has quadrupled over the past decade, but authorities say more efforts are needed to encourage residents to switch to more sustainable methods.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, which is in charge of after-death arrangements, said on Tuesday that the proportion of residents opting for a green burial had increased by 10 per cent since the government introduced the option in 2011.

Green burials involve scattering the cremated ashes of the dead over pebbles in 13 designated memorial gardens or the waters near Tap Mun, Tung Lung Chau and Lamma Island, compared with the conventional method of placing the remains in columbariums.

In 2023, 9,281 people, or 16.5 per cent of the annual death toll, chose alternative burial methods. Of them, 8,237 chose to have their ashes scattered in memorial gardens, while the remaining 1,144 opted for a sea burial.

This is compared with the 2,335 people, or 5.5 per cent, who chose green burial methods in 2011.

“Hongkongers have become more open to the idea of a green burial,” said Alan Li Kai-lun, senior health inspector of the administration and development branch at the department.

“The growth in numbers is more obvious in the initial period, but the rate has been around 16 per cent of the annual death toll in the past few years.”

While Hongkongers had become more open towards these alternative methods, Li said the department would carry out more promotional activities, such as talks and guided tours to the memorial gardens for the public, to raise awareness on end-of-life planning.