Funeral industry calls for more cremators as free morgue period extended

The funeral industry has urged the government to increase the supply of cremators to help bereaved families complete funeral arrangements within 28 days — the maximum duration for free morgue storage in public hospitals.

The call comes after the Hospital Authority revised its earlier, controversial plan to charge for morgue services. Under the new policy, the free storage period will be extended from three days to 28 days, effective January 1, 2026.

Cheng Chi-kit, chairman of the Funeral Business Association, welcomed the revision, saying the industry supports the new arrangement. He estimated that about 80 percent of cases can be completed within the 28-day window.

However, he noted that certain cases — particularly those involving burials or special circumstances — may still face delays due to a shortage of cremators. Cheng urged the government to explore ways to shorten waiting times, including expanding cremator capacity at the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).

He added that although the FEHD currently releases cremation appointment slots for the next 15 days, some families still struggle to secure bookings despite improvements in recent years.

Meanwhile, legislator Edward Lau Kwok-fan suggested that the government adopt a more flexible approach, such as accepting citizens’ explanations for delays and introducing a progressive fee system. He also proposed setting up a one-stop platform to expedite funeral-related procedures.

As for fee waivers for patients and families with financial difficulties, Lau said the current policy remains unclear and called on authorities to clarify whether income or asset assessments would be required.