About Hillside Burial

The custom of hillside burial of indigenous villagers of the New Territories has a long history. In 1983, the Government introduced the "hillside burial policy" and designated Permitted Burial Grounds ("PBGs") on various pieces of Government land for burial of eligible indigenous villagers of the New Territories and locally-based fishermen after their death. The policy aims to uphold their traditional rights and interests and to curb the problem of hillside burial of ineligible persons.

The policy is jointly implemented by various Government departments in accordance with their respective jurisdictions, including the Home Affairs Department, the Lands Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Water Supplies Department. Family members of deceased indigenous villagers and locally-based fishermen are required to apply for a Certificate for Burial from the District Office concerned as proof before burial of the deceased within a PBG.

The District Office would first verify the identity of the deceased before issuing the Certificate. The applicant must observe the rules set out in the Certificate, and bury the deceased at the location within the PBG shown on the plan attached to the Certificate.