Hong Kong extending free public hospital mortuary use to 28 days after outcry
Government revises new arrangement after considering public opinion and stakeholder feedback, with charges kicking in from fifth week after death
A three-day exemption from new mortuary charges effective next year at Hong Kong public hospitals will be extended to four weeks, the government has said, after the move to end free storage of bodies sparked controversy.
Health authorities announced the policy update on Saturday, stressing that they anticipated fees would be required for fewer than 10 per cent of bodies after the new charging scheme was introduced on January 1 next year.
“We considered public opinion and stakeholder feedback and will refine the charging arrangements for our mortuaries,” Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said.
“We aim for these charges to guide the public towards prudent use of our existing healthcare resources.”
Under the revised arrangements, there will be no charges for storing a body for 28 days after death. In the fifth week, the fee will be HK$200 (US$26) per day, rising to HK$550 from the sixth week.
The initial announcement on new charges on Friday last week drew criticism from the funeral sector, which warned that families could be penalised for delays in after-death arrangements, as public hospital mortuaries were currently provided for free.