A total of 8,161 extendable niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI will be allocated, including 8,000 standard niches (4,000 smoke-free niches and 4,000 non-smoke-free niches) and 161 large niches (82 smoke-free niches and 79 non-smoke-free niches).

As for Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium, a total of 10,104 extendable niches including 10,000 standard niches (5,000 smoke-free niches and 5,000 non-smoke-free niches) and 104 large niches (52 smoke-free niches and 52 non-smoke-free niches) will be allocated.

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said the department will only process one application for each deceased in any application period. Applicants should only file one application form to apply for either a large niche or standard niche for the same deceased person.

Starting from March 20, an online application can be made or an application form can be downloaded from the FEHD website.

The open drawing of lots and computer random balloting for the allocation of niches would be conducted in July this year tentatively, and interment of ashes would be subsequently arranged for successful applicants in an orderly manner.

When applying for a large niche, the applicant has to fill in at least three deceased persons' particulars in the application form. For application of a standard niche, the applicant has to fill in at least one deceased person's particulars.

The niches will not be chosen by the applicants themselves and successful applicants can make use of the niche location enquiry system on the FEHD website to enquire as to the location of the niches concerned.

If the applicant decides to take up the designated niche, he or she must complete the relevant formalities and settle the payments at the Public Niche Allocation Office according to the scheduled date and time.

To encourage co-location of ashes, the applicants, if meeting the relevant criteria, will be given an additional ballot paper to enhance the chance of a successful balloting.