History of the Cemetery

 

Nestled in Happy Valley and surrounded by high-rise apartments, Hong Kong's Jewish Cemetery is an oasis of peace. Its entrance is flanked by a Buddhist temple and school. The cemetery is laid out on five levels and contains its own chapel and tahara (ritual purity) room.

 

Hong Kong became a British colony in 1842. By the 1850s, a growing Jewish population—fueled by traders from Iraq and India—created a need for a dedicated burial ground. In 1855, David Sassoon purchased a 10,750-square-foot plot on a 999-year lease from the British Crown. The cemetery was officially opened that year by his son, Reuben David Sassoon.

 

A Hebrew dedication plaque set into the back wall translates as:

"For the souls who have departed this life for their Master in the holy community of Hong Kong, may G-d protect it. And this (land) is a gift of our mistress the Queen (Victoria), may G-d bless her, given with payment in full a sum of money that was necessary by David Sassoon in the year [615]. May he see offspring and have a long life."

 

In 1904, adjacent land was acquired for the chapel and related buildings. The earliest burial, from 1857, is that of Leon Bin Baruel. Records from the Chevra Kadisha (Burial Society) indicate most early deceased were single men, as it was not yet customary for families to settle in plague-ridden Hong Kong. Reflecting a transient population and lack of official functionaries, sixteen of the oldest graves bear only numbered markers, with no names.

 

 

As the community prospered, the simple granite sarcophagi of the earliest burials gave way to varied styles—ornate, plain, modern, and those with Ionic-style canopies in white marble. Common headstone motifs include sprays of flowers, scrolled tops, garlanded columns, and leafy branches. One gravestone features a broken column, symbolizing a premature death.

 

In the original section behind the chapel, Sephardi graves predominate, reflecting the community's early demographics. Some inscriptions include Arabic numerals, a tradition kept by those from Iraq.

 

From the late 19th century until 1917, White Russians, including many Jews, fled to Chinese cities like Harbin and Shanghai. Some later moved to Hong Kong in 1949, shifting the community's demographics. This change is reflected in a group of Ashkenazi-style graves along the cemetery's east side, some with Russian inscriptions. One grave on the fifth level even features a cameo image of the deceased, typical of Russian markers.

 

As Hong Kong grew as a trading gateway, the community changed again, attracting people from across the globe. Their gravestones, scattered throughout the cemetery, bear inscriptions in Dutch, French, German, and English.

"Show me the manner in which a nation or community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty to high ideals."

 

The Jewish Historical Society maintains a database of all cemetery records and welcomes additional information. If you know someone related to a deceased member of the community, please ask them to make contact.

 

Read here our brochure about the cemetery.