Hospital Authority extends free morgue stay to 28 days after public backlash

Facing widespread concern, the Hospital Authority has revised its controversial plan to charge for morgue services in public hospitals, stretching the free period from three days to a full 28 days starting January 1, 2026.

Initially set to end free storage after three days—with HK$100 daily from day four, HK$200 from day 18, and HK$550 from day 34—the authority explained that the change aligns with the principle of user pays while acknowledging that 95 percent of death certificates are issued within the first three days.

The revised policy now keeps the first four weeks cost-free, followed by HK$200 per day from day 29 onward, and HK$550 per day from the sixth week onward.

Officials noted that roughly 80 percent of bodies leave morgues within 28 days, and half of the remaining 20 percent qualify for waivers due to financial hardship, meaning only about one in ten cases will face charges.

The goal, they stressed, is not revenue but to encourage families to arrange funerals promptly, allowing the deceased to rest in peace while easing the strain on hospital facilities that currently operate at full capacity.