Government Removes 10 Illegal Graves in Tai Tong and Tap Mun, Relocates Remains to Sha Ling
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Home Affairs Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and Lands Department conducted a two-day joint enforcement operation on November 10-11, 2026, removing 10 illegal graves from designated burial zones in Yuen Long's Tai Tong Shan Road area and Tai Po's Tap Mun. The removed remains have been reburied at Sha Ling Cemetery. Authorities had issued compliance notices in September requiring responsible parties to cease occupying government land by late October, but no one came forward to claim any of the 10 graves .
Key Points
- The operation involved three government departments removing 10 illegal graves, golden houses, or golden towers from approved burial areas
- Notices were posted at relevant locations in late September 2026, with an October 26-27 deadline for affected parties to come forward
- After the deadline passed with no claims, authorities proceeded with removal and reburial at Sha Ling Cemetery
- Under the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, occupying government land without permission constitutes an offence
- Under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, burying human remains without written permission is a criminal offence
Why It Matters
The enforcement action signals the government's commitment to cracking down on unauthorized burial practices that encroach on government land, with authorities planning similar operations at other unapproved grave sites before next year's Ching Ming Festival . Property owners and families who maintain unauthorized graves face potential prosecution and removal of remains under Hong Kong's land management and public health laws .
The enforcement action signals the government's commitment to cracking down on unauthorized burial practices that encroach on government land, with authorities planning similar operations at other unapproved grave sites before next year's Ching Ming Festival . Property owners and families who maintain unauthorized graves face potential prosecution and removal of remains under Hong Kong's land management and public health laws .