The Interview
Here is an excerpt of a recent interview with Algordanza Hong Kong's director, Mr Scott SK Fong that is to be published in a related funeral industry newsletter in Japan, Aug 2011.
Q1．How you started Algordanza in your country? How you knew about the service.? Why you were attracted to the idea of creating diamonds out of ashes? What was the key factor to start the business?
We started Algordanza Hong Kong in 2009 and we found out about the service from seeing an article from a newspaper. We thought such a service was unique and would be highly appreciated in a funeral industry that hasn't changed much in Hong Kong for many years. What was attractive to me personally, was that I would use this service for myself when the time comes and can see the meaningfulness of this concept as opposed to other burial methods. I can rest well, knowing that I can be close to my immediate family and the generations after. I come from an engineering background and I also think of the practicality of the diamond burial process in terms of not having to occupy land, burden future generations with maintenance and being small and pleasant looking enough to be worn by someone anywhere they go or move!
The key factor if starting this business is the belief that this burial method is what people really want, but didn't know they wanted yet! In many cases, too many people do not know about this method and we felt it was our duty to bring this to the Hong Kong market.
Q2．How the service was /is received in your country? Conceptually, religiously. Any obstacle because of tradition or religious reasons. Or are there reasons why the service is accepted positively?
The diamond burial service is received quite well in Hong Kong. There are not really any strong beliefs against this concept, aside from the more superstitious audience. But at the same time, some local superstitions believe that it would be lucky for some to wear an article from the deceased at certain times, so it is hard to say what some people are really thinking! The major obstacle about this service is not really the service itself, but the notion of death in general. The general public in Hong Kong does not like to talk about death or bereavement planning. It is considered taboo, and even in media like television where major channels do not allow advertising of funeral products. This is unfortunate, because in Hong Kong there are many cases where a relative has passed away, and no one in the family knew what they wanted or how they wanted to be treated. They will then engage a third party who will decide for them and the whole process becomes impersonal and in some cases an opportunity for some funeral busineses to provide some very poor service.
Q3．What is most difficult aspect of Algordanza service? Business-wise or customer-relation-wise?
The most difficult part of the Algordanza service is raising the awareness of the service itselt. As mentioned earlier, many people in Hong Kong do not like to talk or discuss about death in general, so it is at times difficult to get an audience. Thankfully, there are some community services and educational departments that recognize the need for future planning and we use each other to help spread the news of this service.
Q4．What do you think is the value of our service? What do you think we are really doing in conceptual sense?
In a simple conceptual sense, I believe we are enabling a person (or a group of people) to have one meaningful and beautiful everlasting physical connection with a member that has passed away. This was simply not possible before in the way it is now with the memorial diamond.
Q5．What is your expectations for future?
My expectations for the future are that more and more people will consider this service as a mainstream way of burial, irrespective of race religion or color. We think this concept will take time in mainstream acceptance in Hong Kong because after all, tradition, culture and religion has been and still will be, a heavy influence on burial methods and ideology. Having said that, we still get comments from people wishing they had known of our service earlier, and would have certainly used the service at the time. The future is bright and the way the world is changing so fast, the diamond burial concept will become ever more relevant as we see global barriers reduced and many people moving around all the time.
2011年8月