The History of Hong Kong Funeral Rites
Early 19th Century
There was no funeral house in Hong Kong. The rich people would organize funerals at home. At that time, the people believed that it would be better to pass away at home. Before the Second World War, the buildings in Hong Kong had no lifts, but the staircases were very narrow. Coffins therefore could only be brought into home by building a bamboo shed outside the building, so that the coffin can be brought into home through the windows. The funerals were organized by a funeral undertaker.
For the poor people, who usually leased a bed or a room only, it was impossible to organize a funeral at home. Because there was no hospital, other tenants would place the body of the deceased outside so that those from the funeral undertaker would take away the body. For those who had no relatives and friends, the bodies would be taken away by the government.
