By Dr. Kevin Lau
The Hospital Authority (HA) has recently announced optimizations to public hospital mortuary fees, extending the free storage period for deceased bodies from the original proposal's first 3 days to the first 28 days. This policy, revised in response to public and industry feedback, encourages rational use of public resources while fully accommodating the needs of bereaved families, embodying a people-centered governance philosophy. Amid pressures from an aging population on mortuary demand, this move not only eases overcrowding but also demonstrates the HA's citizen-focused decision-making wisdom. I support the new HA mortuary charge, as all sectors of society should actively endorse it to enable equitable allocation of medical resources, benefiting more patients and families.
Hong Kong's population is aging rapidly, with deaths in public hospitals rising from about 32,000 in 2007 to over 41,000 in 2024, an increase of more than 28%. The HA has committed significant efforts to enhance mortuary capacity, expanding spaces from 1,500 to about 3,360, a 124% rise; the mortuary-to-bed ratio has improved from 1:18 to 1:9. Despite this, body storage times continue to lengthen, with about 10% exceeding one month and some over a year, leading to utilization rates frequently surpassing 100%. In spring 2024, over 8 hospital mortuaries were overloaded, reaching 13 during 2025 peaks. Facing land and operational cost constraints, the HA urgently needs to balance care demands with resource utilization within limited spaces.
For public convenience, the HA has accelerated death certificate issuance, with over 95% completed within three working days and 99% within seven. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department arranges cremation slots within 15 days. These measures should facilitate quicker body collection, but actual average storage times remain long, reflecting families' need for more time to handle posthumous affairs. The HA emphasizes that the fee principle is "pay according to ability, reduce waste" rather than revenue generation, aiming to encourage timely funeral arrangements and alleviate mortuary pressure.
The optimized mortuary fee details are as follows: The original plan offered the first 3 days free, days 4 to 17 at HK$100 daily, days 18 to 33 at HK$200, and day 34 onward at HK$550. The new plan provides the first 28 days free, days 29 to 35 at HK$200 daily, and day 36 onward at HK$550. Past data shows median storage around three weeks, with over 80% at 28 days or less, meaning the vast majority of families incur no fees. Among the remaining cases, about 10% qualify for exemptions, resulting in actual payments for fewer than 10% overall. The new arrangement grants families sufficient time to finalize documents, prepare services, and book cremations, effectively reducing financial pressures while focusing fees on prolonged storage cases.
Exemption mechanisms remain unchanged, including full waivers for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, proportional relief based on medical waivers, and exemptions for delays beyond family control such as coroner's inquests. Families facing economic difficulties can apply for assistance, embodying the HA's humane care and preventing added burdens on vulnerable groups.
The optimized policy helps mitigate mortuary resource strain. Though occasional overloads during peaks are inevitable, the situation is expected to improve gradually. The HA also continues to enhance services, such as adding farewell rooms in some hospitals for convenient direct transfers to cremation. Looking ahead, I suggest the HA sustain monitoring of utilization rates and explore developments like private mortuaries or technological management optimizations to further boost overall effectiveness.
Supporting the HA's optimized arrangements reflects society's responsible attitude toward public resources and, more importantly, safeguards the well-being of patients and families. The healthcare system is like a vast ship, requiring precise balance to accommodate all sides. Let us unite to propel Hong Kong's healthcare to transform from challenges, shining with humane brilliance.
The author is Founding Convenor of the Hong Kong Global Youth Professional Advocacy Action, a specialist in radiology, Master of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong, and an adviser of the Our Hong Kong Foundation.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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