Mortuary services in 1937? | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Mortuary services in 1937?

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Submitted by seemex on Sat, 2016-06-25 00:31

Does anyone know if any mortuary and/or funeral service companies might still exist from the 1930s? I contacted Hong Kong Funeral Home ( advertised as oldest in Hong Kong ) and they said they were not in business that far back. I am trying to find who might have handled a funeral in 1937 and also if they are still in business today. I would also like to know if anyone can tell me the average cost of a burial back then? I have a figure of $1358. and would like to know if this figure was high, low or average for the era.

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Submitted by philk on Sat, 2016-06-25 21:03.

I remember from a visit to the Kwong Wah museum with David that the Tung Wah group dealt with a lot of funerary arrangements - often helping repatriate bodies & remains back to Mainland China for those who wished to be buried there. It could be worth contacting them...they must have dealt with other companies as well?

Submitted by seemex on Sun, 2016-06-26 00:49.

Thank you. I have sent an e-mail to Tung Wah Group and I'll post anything pertinent. I have my fingers crossed! 

Submitted by tngan on Sun, 2016-06-26 09:55.

Hi there,

If you read Chinese, there is a wiki entry out there.  As usual information in Wiki is not 100% accurate, but it gives you some idea.

In the entry there is a pre-WWII section which might give you some idea.   The Wiki entry had left out information for non-Chinese though.  I believe various religious organization would cater such services for their belivers?

T

Submitted by C on Mon, 2016-06-27 22:58.
This page has a list of current funeral parlours in Hong Kong: www.fehd.gov.hk/english/cc/index.html This funeral garment company was founded in Guangzhou in 1904. Its Hong Kong store opened in 1938: www.leungchunwoonkee.com