Hong Kong runs short of coffins amid Shenzhen lockdown

Funerals may have to delay as the seven-day lockdown in Shenzhen disrupted transportation of coffins from the mainland, Funeral Business Association said.  

Chairman of the Funeral Business Association Kwok Hoi-bong said most ritual supplies, including incense sticks and joss paper, were transported from the mainland, and they were also affected by the lockdown that started Monday.  

Kwok said the waterway was not an ideal alternative: "The 130 coffins ordered some 10 days ago only arrived on Tuesday. It was impossible to catch up with demand."  

He also said it takes time to complete customs clearance and unload after the containers carrying coffins arrive at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals.  

"We hope that authorities in Hong Kong and the mainland could coordinate to maintain coffin transport by land transport," he said.   

Earlier, the funeral industry said only 300 coffins remain in Hong Kong, which could be used up in three days.   

There has been considerable demand for coffins due to Covid deaths – Hong Kong reported on Monday a record single-day toll of 249 fatalities.   

Speaking at the press conference on Wednesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department was aware of the difficulties faced by the funeral industry due to logistics problems and had been working with relevant mainland authorities for solutions.  

"For example, two batches of coffins are being sent to Hong Kong by sea," she said.   

She also said authorities have tried their best to solve the problems faced by families of the deceased, including arranging for death certificates and burial as soon as possible: "Crematoriums under FEHD are operating at their full capacities."  

Around 180 coffins arrived in Hong Kong on Monday and Tuesday, using both land and water transport, according to FEHD.