Hong Kong high-rise aims to become 'village' of the dead

Architect Ulrich Kirchhoff said his design was inspired by traditional Chinese graveyards, often perched on mountainsides. - AFP

HONG KONG (AFP): With its white marble foyer and lavish chandeliers, the 12-storey tower could be mistaken for one of Hong Kong's newest hotels, but it offers a longer stay: a final resting place for thousands in one of the world's most crowded cities.

Hong Kong's 7.3 million residents share some of the most densely populated neighbourhoods on earth, and in the past, mourning families had to wait years to secure a spot for their loved ones' ashes.