Sandy Ridge Cemetery

{{Short description|Cemetery in Sandy Ridge, Hong Kong}} [[File:Sandy Ridge Cemetery and Sham Chun River.jpg|thumb|Sandy Ridge Cemetery viewed across [[Sham Chun River]] as seen from [[Luohu Port]]]] '''Sandy Ridge Cemetery''' ({{zh|t=沙嶺墳場}}) is a cemetery in [[Sandy Ridge, Hong Kong|Sandy Ridge]], Hong Kong near [[Man Kam To]] and next to [[Lo Wu Control Point]]. It is managed by [[Food and Environmental Hygiene Department]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/map/cemetery/cc_pt.html?mapID=50&type=cemetery|title=Sandy Ridge Cemetery|work=[[Food and Environmental Hygiene Department]]|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/5002294/sandy%20ridge%20cemetery/|title=Sandy Ridge Cemetery|work=[[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]]|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref> It lies on the slopes between Sandy Ridge and Lo Wu Station Road.

==History== The cemetery started construction in 1949 and was opened to the public in 1950. At the time, it consisted of four coffin sections: Little Sister of the Poor, Roman Catholic Church, Sha Ling (general) and Tung Wah. It is also a final home for unclaimed human remains which were transferred from various cemeteries which had ceased operation, such as Kai Lung Wan East Cemetery, New Kowloon Cemetery No.7, New Stanley Cemetery, Sham Wan Cemetery and Shek O Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/report/eiareport/eia_2362016/EIA%20HTML/eia/pdf/ch1.pdf|title=Agreement No. CE 1/2013 (CE) Site Formation and Associated Infrastructural Works for Development of Columbarium, Crematorium and Related Facilities at Sandy Ridge Cemetery – Design and Construction Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report|work=[[Environmental Protection Department]]|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref>

However, during the [[Qingming Festival|Ching Ming]] and [[Double Ninth Festival|Chung Yeung]] festivals, people outside the area do not need to apply for the [[Frontier Closed Area#Closed Area Permit|Closed Area Permit]] to enter. From 4 January 2016, due to the reduction of the [[Frontier Closed Area]], it is no longer in the restricted area. From then on, people can go to the cemetery without holding a Closed Area Permit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2015/06/19/shenzhen-residents-pledge-to-resist-super-cemetery-at-lo-wu-border/|title=Shenzhen residents pledge to resist 'super cemetery' at Lo Wu border|first=Ryan Ho|last=Kilpatrick|date=19 June 2015|newspaper=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201512/30/P201512300234.htm|title=Third stage of reduction of Frontier Closed Area to be implemented|date=30 December 2015|newspaper=[[Government of Hong Kong|Hong Kong Government]]|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref>

In April 2021, it was announced that Sandy Ridge Cemetery will be expanded to yield more than 200,000 niche plots and stage 17,800 annual cremations that could be used instead for other industries that could promote collaboration with neighbouring cities such as [[Shenzhen]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3128988/hong-kong-pushing-ahead-massive-cemetery-complex-near|title=Hong Kong pushing ahead with massive cemetery complex near mainland China border, amid pro-establishment party's 'major blunder' warning|first1=Tony|last1=Cheung|first2=Ji|last2=Siqi|first3=Lilian|last3=Cheng|newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]]|date=9 April 2021|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of cemeteries in Hong Kong]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Find a Grave cemetery|2741563}} {{commons category|Sandy Ridge Cemetery}} {{North District, Hong Kong}}

[[Category:Cemeteries in Hong Kong]] [[Category:North District, Hong Kong]]