Department of Health | Forensic Pathology Service

Important Notice

In accordance with the Coroners Ordinance (Cap. 504), the bodies of the victims in the fire will be transferred to the public mortuary. The Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) is collecting evidence for the Police’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit and fully assisting in the identification of the deceased. The Police will arrange for the bereaved families of the deceased to visit the public mortuary and identify the deceased in an orderly manner. Considering that bereaved families may have difficulty providing identification documents and medical records of the deceased, forensic pathologists will exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis and provide appropriate support. They will also endeavour to assist bereaved families in applying for a waiver of post-mortem procedures according to their wishes.

The Department of Health has deployed clinical psychologists to the Kwong Fuk Community Hall in Tai Po and Fu Shan Public Mortuary (FSPM) to provide support to bereaved families. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Immigration Department, the Social Welfare Department and the Auxiliary Medical Service are also jointly providing on-site support services for families at the FSPM. Starting today, four non-government organisations, namely the Hong Kong Red Cross, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (Chun Tei Kok Buddhist Association Limited Centre of Life Enlightening), Comfort Care Concern Group and Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, send staff to the FSPM under the coordination of the DH to provide emotional counselling and support to bereaved families in need. Members of the public who wish to inquire about collecting the bodies of their relatives or family members from the FSPM may call 2606 9343 or 2606 9333 during office hours.

The Forensic Pathology Service of the Department of Health provides temporary body storage service in public mortuaries for cases of reportable death under Cap. 504 Coroners Ordinance only. In general, transferral of deceased bodies from other mortuaries (e.g. hospital mortuaries) is normally not accepted.

Fu Shan Public Mortuary was re-located to New Territories (Shatin) Forensic Medicine Centre at 7 Lower Shing Mun Road, Shatin on 6th January 2023 (Friday).

Body identification at New Territories (Shatin) Forensic Medicine Centre (re-provisioned Fu Shan Public Mortuary) commenced on 9th January 2023 (Monday).

The general office of public mortuaries will be closed during typhoon signal number 8 or above. For information regarding body identification arrangements during severe weather conditions, please refer to the FAQ on our website. click here!

Identifiers can check the latest update on the availability of cremation or burial orders and whether the bodies of deceased individuals are ready for collection via the public mortuary body handling enquiry platform.
If you would like to use this enquiry platform, please confirm during your interview with the mortuary staff. For the user guide of this platform - please click here!

About Us

The Forensic Pathology Service provides forensic pathology and clinical forensic medicine services to government departments. It works closely with the Police and provides professional input on medico-legal aspects of criminal cases.

History of the Forensic Pathology Service of Hong Kong