【明報專訊】THE government is consulting the public about its columbarium policy. This is the first time in recent years it has tried to deal with the problem by increasing niche supply and regulating private columbaria's operations. However, it is not clear that the government has any new idea of dealing with districts' objections to building columbarium facilities. Furthermore, it seems sluggish in seeking to regulate private columbaria's operations. We wonder why it should take three years to get the legislation through. Such is the government's housing policy that new flats are in short supply and are so expensive that few can afford to buy their own homes. The supply of government niches falls even shorter of demand. Hong Kong citizens have to be worried about their "shelter" in this world and the next. Is this their fate?