Contemplate this: the Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery. It is more than just a final resting place. It is a testament to Hong Kong’s rich cultural heritage.
This cemetery in Kwai Chung first opened in June 1941. The Hong Kong Government granted the land in 1935. The cemetery occupies about 120,000 square meters.
The Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery is managed by The Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries. It is the second Chinese permanent cemetery in Hong Kong. The Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery was the first. The term “Permanent” refers to the cemetery site. It does not refer to the graves.
Look around you. Imagine the slopes between Riviera Gardens and Tsuen Wan Abattoir. Notice how the cemetery faces Gin Drinkers Bay and Rambler Channel.
To meet the increasing demand for niches, two columbariums were built. They were completed in 1974 and 1987. The first columbarium expanded in 2015. This accommodated the growing popularity of cremation.
Many notable figures are buried here at the Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery. Eu Tong Sen rests here. He was a leading businessman in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Also buried here is Chan Chak. He was an admiral of the Republic of China Navy. Tam Woon-tong is here too. He was a former Prime Minister of Po Leung Kuk and founder of Kowloon Motor Bus.
Other notable burials include Li Zuyong, Tang Ti-sheng, and Henry Leong. Li Zuyong was a Hong Kong film producer. Tang Ti-sheng was a Cantonese opera playwright. Henry Leong was a comprador of Jardine Matheson. Au-Yeung Kim is also here. He was a Hong Kong film actor. Chan Nam Cheong rests here. He was the founder of Vitasoy. Alan Li Fook-sum is buried here. He was the former chairman of Kowloon Dairy.
The Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery stands as a place of remembrance. It reflects the traditions and history of Hong Kong. It connects us to the lives and legacies of those who shaped this city.