SCOPE: H.K. charity pioneers service debunking death taboos

Asian Economic News, Dec 13, 2004

HONG KONG, Dec. 8 Kyodo

Chinese people may have some of the most elaborate funeral rituals in the world, but it may not be what the deceased wished, largely because of deep-rooted taboos on talking about death.

And even though most Hong Kong people are not Taoist, Taoism still offers one of the most popular funeral ceremony styles in the city.

A typical Taoist funeral is usually a one-day event with monks chanting scriptures for hours, followed by macabre dance and other rituals performed by the monks in dimmed lights to ''assist the dead to reincarnate in his next life,'' according to veteran funeral industry director Ng Yiu-tong.

An array of paper models ranging from four-bedroom apartments, luxury cars, mobile phones, computers, the latest gadgets and servants to ''just anything'' can be tailor-made at funerary supply shops to be displayed at the service.

The paper offerings are subsequently burned for the deceased at the end of the ceremony.

Costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the number of the monks hired, how elaborate the paper offerings are and how expensive the type of wood for the coffin.

For some, it is a filial tribute to the ancestor, for others, a show of riches for the family.

And in many cases, the deceased has never been consulted for his or her preferences for the event.

But 81-year-old Wong Sau-wan has already picked her coffin and drafted the rundown for her final party.

Wong is one of some 120 elderly people who have joined the Funeral Navigation Service pioneered by the charity group St James' Settlement, the first of its kind in the city.

Born in 1923, Wong, a retired factory worker, has been widowed since her 30s and her only marriage left her with no children. She confided in a close friend about what she wishes for her funeral, but she also worries her friend could be too frail to do it.

Then, while watching television, a news program featured the St James' service, which was launched in September.

''They showed me pictures of different kinds of coffins, Chinese, Western, Christian and so on. Without any hesitation, I picked the Chinese-style one,'' Wong said. ''The traditional Chinese suit for the dead provided in the package is fine for me too. I like things being simple.''

Wong said she has checked out paper offerings but has decided not to have any.

''All those houses and cars I've seen at others' funerals, I don't think I need them. I've never burned any paper offerings, not even incense. I think it is not environmentally friendly.''

''I feel very settled about it now after talking to St James'. I don't have to worry there is no one to take care of my funeral after I am gone.''

''Every one will face death once in a lifetime. It's only a matter of when,'' she said. ''I have no fear about death. I will go some day and my soul will leave this body, which will become useless just like animals.''

When the day comes, social workers from St James' Settlement will do as instructed by Wong.

''We will go to the morgue and have funeral service people to clean up her body and put makeup on her,'' said Gary Sham, St James' Corporate Venture (Partnership and Alliances) manager, who is in charge of the service.

As requested by Wong, a monk will be hired to chant some Buddhist scriptures and perform a simple ceremony at the morgue instead of at a funeral parlor.

Some duck eggs, buns, Chinese puddings, vegetarian snacks, tea and wine will be displayed in the morgue. All these items can be consumed after the ceremony and none of them will be burned.

Her body will then be cremated and Wong has requested her ashes be sprinkled in a government cemetery. No urn or tombstone will be necessary.

The entire event will be funded by a HK$10,300 (US$1,324) funeral subsidy from the government as Wong is a recipient of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Hong Kong's safety network for the poor.

Since the service launched in September, 120 or so participants, mostly elderly people who do not have anyone to take care of their funeral arrangements, have had their funerals chalked out with the help of St James'. No one has yet died.

To debunk the taboos surrounding death, St James' will hold a seminar Dec. 18 for any one interested in learning more about funeral arrangements and how to face death.

''People should not wait until the very last moment when a loved one passes away to start looking into the matter. You won't be in the mood to do the right things, and will be left to haggling with the aggressive salesmen,'' Shem said.

Compared to other Asian countries, such as Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia, Hong Kong lags behind in bereavement services, said Amy Chow, Hong Kong University's Center on Behavioral Health's honorary clinical associate and a speaker invited to St James' seminar.

Chow said because of the cultural taboo that a person who dies in a house will bring bad luck to the family and their neighbors, people in Hong Kong seldom witness how someone dies.