Instead of opting for expensive burial plots or mausoleum spaces, they can have their loved ones’ ashes scattered over tranquil new gardens at government columbaria – free.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will launch two Gardens of Remembrance for people to scatter the ashes of deceased family members. The remains will then be covered by a thin layer of soil.
The first is being built at Cape Collinson Columbarium.
Government niches for urns cost several thousand dollars.
The practice of scattering ashes in gardens of remembrance is common in Britain.
All of Hong Kong’s eight columbaria have a garden of remembrance.
“If people like it, we will build even bigger gardens in other areas. The gardens can be very fancy and even have pagodas and fountains”
Tbilisi cast doubt on the announcement, say Moscow was still bombing towns and villages.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Patin had earlier accused the United States of hypocrisy after US President George. W. Bush demanded on Monday that Russia end a “dramatic and brutal escalation” of violence