Hong Kong - Empty factories and industrial buildings could be converted to store human ashes amid a shortage of sites to build traditional columbaria, Hong Kong's health minister said Monday.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said the use of industrial buildings was one option being considered by the government. But he admitted that getting the green light to develop the proposals was "not an easy task."

Explaining the difficulties, Chow said various government departments would have to scrutinise the plan to ensure it would be approved by local residents.

Chow said opposition from residents and neighbourhood councils had already derailed attempts to build columbaria at suitable sites despite the shortage of space.

"Hong Kong is facing a shortage of columbaria for this type of service. Over the years we have been trying very hard to find new places to build a columbarium, but as you know every time we spot the place or try to find any suitable places, we always face opposition from the residents and the district councils," he said.

The space shortage means that human ashes are only interred in columbaria for seven years before relatives have to remove them and make alternative arrangements. This often means ashes are kept at home in an urn. (dpa)