IN a joint effort to improve Dalian's image, the city's Civil Administration Bureau and Health Administration Bureau have agreed to remove mortuaries from hospitals, the Dalian Evening News reported.

　　This will no doubt come as welcome news for the citizens living near hospitals in Dalian, of Liaoning Province.

　　Primarily, this is a part of the city's reform of interment practices, and 10 out of the 14 cities in Liaoning Province have fully removed mortuaries from all hospitals, according to Du Yongfu, the head of the relevant department.

　　The revolting smell combined with the cries of mourners brings about many sleepless nights for nearby residents. The existence of in-hospital mortuaries, Du said, inevitably affects the lives of those citizens.

　　At the same time, wreath shops, widespread around hospitals, are out of step with the integrated management of this sector. Above all, they clash with the opening image of the city, which aims at improving its investment environment.

　　The interim regulations for interment concerning the removal of mortuaries from hospitals were put forward as early as 1997, but have never been implemented, for various reasons.

　　According to Du, this is partly because hospital officials worry that collecting medical treatment fees for the decreased may become more difficult if the remains are directly moved to funeral parlours without being kept in hospitals for a period of time. Hospitals are also afraid that they may lose some of the potential transplant contributions from deceased patients.

　　If everything goes smoothly, however, starting in October, the remains of the dead will be directly transported to funeral parlours after death. (Star News)