Chiu Yuen Cemetery

Beneath the watchful gaze of Mount Davis lies Chiu Yuen Cemetery. It’s a place shrouded in misconceptions, often mistaken for the Ho Tung family’s private plot. Chiu Yuen Cemetery holds a unique story, a story of Hong Kong’s Eurasian community. Founded in 1897, Chiu Yuen Cemetery wasn’t a business venture. It was a response to the discrimination faced by Eurasians, who were denied burial in places like the Colonial Cemetery in Happy Valley. Sir Robert Ho Tung, a prominent Eurasian figure, championed the creation of Chiu Yuen Cemetery. He and his family understood the need for a final resting place where their community could be laid to rest with dignity. In the late 19th century, other non-European and non-Protestant communities established their own cemeteries. The Chinese population had their traditional hillside burials. Mainland Chinese often preferred to be buried back in their villages. This created a complex situation during the 1894 bubonic plague outbreak, when families tried to send bodies back home. British soldiers had to intervene to prevent the disease’s spread. This tragic event shifted perspectives on local burial. New cemeteries were established for the Chinese community. However, these remained inaccessible to Eurasians. Chiu Yuen Cemetery provided a sense of belonging for a community often marginalized. It allowed them to practice ancestral worship and affirm their identity. The 999-year lease for Chiu Yuen Cemetery was granted for a nominal fee of one Hong Kong dollar per year. The Ho Tungs were entrusted with its management, not for profit, but for the benefit of all local Eurasians. Recent controversies suggest a violation of this trust. Some claim that plots were sold to non-Eurasians. However, a board member offered a different perspective. He clarified that plots are reserved for descendants of the original Eurasian community, a group now much smaller than the broader Eurasian population of Hong Kong. He attributed the controversy to internal disputes and the cemetery’s potential land value. Times have changed. Eurasians are now buried throughout Hong Kong. Sir Robert Ho Tung himself was the first Eurasian allowed burial in the Colonial Cemetery. Chiu Yuen Cemetery stands as a reminder of the past, a testament to the struggles and resilience of Hong Kong’s Eurasian community. It highlights the importance of preserving such sites, not just for their historical significance, but also as a symbol of the city’s rich diversity.