Hospital mortuary fees will unfairly penalise Hong Kong families: funeral sector

Mortuary charges set to be introduced in Hong Kong public hospitals next year could unfairly penalise families for delays in after-death arrangements, a funeral business association has argued, despite authorities saying those with financial difficulties will not have to pay.

The funeral sector on Thursday criticised new measures gazetted last week that would introduce fees for mortuary services that are currently free at public hospitals.

The tiered fee structure, set to take effect on January 1 next year, would ensure that storage remained free for the first three days after a death.

The daily charge would then increase incrementally – HK$100 (US$13) per day from day four; HK$200 from day 18; and HK$550 from day 34 onwards.

The authority confirmed that the new rates were determined after considering hospital operations and the cost of similar services in the market.

But Cheng Chi-kit, chairman of the Funeral Business Association, said the free period should be extended to around a month, as it could take three to five days for the government to process papers, while the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department cremation slot has a 15-day guarantee.