Making Funeral Arrangements in Hong Kong

Knowing what to do when a family member passes away in Hong Kong, (click here to read more), is the first step in understanding how to navigate the process.

To make funeral arrangements in Hong Kong, there are a number of steps to follow. These include deciding on the type of funeral service, choosing a funeral home, making arrangements for the funeral or memorial service, obtaining a death certificate, registering the death, and beginning the process of settling the deceased's estate. Here are some more detailed steps to follow when making funeral arrangements in Hong Kong:

1. Decide on the type of funeral service: The first step in making funeral arrangements in Hong Kong is to decide on the type of funeral service. In Hong Kong, there are two main options: traditional burial and cremation. Traditional burial involves interring the deceased in a cemetery plot, while cremation involves cremating the deceased and interring their ashes in a columbarium, scattering them in a designated area or even newer methods such as converting the ashes into a memorial diamond.

   
   

2. Choose a funeral home: Once the type of funeral service has been decided, the next step is to choose a funeral home. It is important to choose a reputable and trustworthy funeral home that can provide the services and support needed during this difficult time. Engage a funeral planning service. These services will be there for you throughout the entire process, aiding you step by step through the entire process. You can think of a funeral planner as someone similar to a travel agent.  They will customize your funeral experience by giving you a choice of locations for the ceremony, religious ritual and even food for guests - to suit any budget. A couple of such services available in Hong Kong can be provided by Kung Sau Funeral services or Universal Funeral Parlour. In general, most funeral services start with general advice, whereby they will answer funeral related queries, provide quotations and even assist in the handling of documents such as the death certificate and cremation/burial permit, if applicable. Due to the tightly packed schedules of crematoriums, you will be asked to choose the crematorium you would like and the date of cremation. However, through this, the date may not be confirmed. The cremation date could be the day after the funeral ceremony or a few days after. In certain situations, if the preferred cremation date cannot be acquired, the body may be held in the funeral parlour till the cremation date. This aside, it is just how the process works in Hong Kong, rather than worrying about the date of cremation you should go ahead with the funeral planning as the final cremation date is essentially out of your control. Leave it to the agent of your funeral service that you have engaged to arrange the dates.

3. Make arrangements for the funeral or memorial service: The funeral home will assist with making arrangements for the funeral or memorial service. This may include deciding on the location of the service, choosing pallbearers, selecting music and readings, and purchasing a casket or urn, if desired. The funeral ceremony will be planned as per the wishes and religion of your lost loved one. At the same time, an obituary can be drafted, and relatives and friends should be informed of the loss and the upcoming funeral ceremony. From there, behind the scenes, the company will pick up the deceased from the mortuary and transport them to their parlour, where the corpse will be prepared for the funeral ceremony (cleaning, embalmment, make-up, etc.). Once all the planning and preparations are complete, the funeral ceremony is ready to proceed.

4. Obtain a death certificate: In order to settle the deceased's estate and handle any legal matters, it will be necessary to obtain a death certificate. The funeral home can assist with this process.

5. Register the death: In Hong Kong, it is also necessary to register the death with the local government. This can be done through the District Office or the Home Affairs Department.

6. Notify relevant parties: After the death of a loved one, it is important to notify relevant parties, such as family members, friends, and any organizations or businesses that the deceased was associated with. This may include their employer, insurance companies, and banks.

7. Begin the process of settling the deceased's estate: Once the funeral or memorial service has been held and the death certificate and registration have been obtained, the next step is to begin the process of settling the deceased's estate. This may include inventorying the deceased's assets, paying outstanding debts, and distributing the remaining assets according to the deceased's wishes, as outlined in their will or through the laws of intestate succession.

Flower wreaths are a common arrangement for funerals to show support.

Funerals are solemn events, where the bereaved can greave and send off their lost loved to their next stage of existence. Many families opt for the best options and try their best to provide the most elaborate and grand funeral ceremonies for the deceased. It is heart-warming to see people put in so much time and effort into planning a funeral to send off their loved ones from their last stop on this earth. After the funeral, the next step is burial.  The burial option chosen can be everlasting and forms a place where families are able to commemorate the life the deceased and there are many options available. Click here to read about burial options and their associated costs in Hong Kong.

A typical hearse in Hong Kong

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