. . . .

I am not familiar with cantonese custom, can you tell us more about the "chew dou" ceremony?

is this the part where you put the ash of your late father in some temple where they will offer food/ prayers every year?
In buddhism, the departed relatives can benefit from our transfer of merits if they are born as Ghosts , and if they know that you are dedicating the merits to them. If they are not born as ghosts, then is our effort wasted?

The Buddha said never wasted, because in our infinite past, we are bound to have some relatives in the past lives that are still suffering in the ghost realm, and our transfer of merits will never be wasted or in vain

As for your last question - why would you want to be born (or think that you will become one ) as a ghost when you die?  The ways to a happy birth has been taught by our Buddha, to humans and even the realms of the gods!!!
 

But just let's say you are born as a ghost, then I can imagine it's very hard for you to do any good there because - there is nothing to give there as there is no trading , commerce, etc at that place. The Buddha said it's very hard for us to regain a human birth once we lose it.

. . .

Chew dou=超度
Hope it helps

I don't know much about Taoist rites, so I can only give you opinion based on Buddhism.

The best person to perform the Transfer of Merits is the relatives of the departed one, because he knows and remembers his former relatives, and the relatives also know him.

I mean, imagine ourselves in very suffering condition, sometimes a name of a person will come to our  mind that we hope can help us right? and if that person actually knows how, and comes to help us, we will benefit.

Usually transfer of merit in buddhism is done , by giving alms to the Sangha (community of monks), (food ,medicine, shelter , robes) - and there is an ancient formula to recite translated to "This is for my relative, may he be well and happy", best if followed by conviction and full understanding in the Karma of giving. 

Some families will invite monk to their house , to offer food (dana) on behalf of their departed ones.

As for your current situation, my advice
1. continue to give alms to the Sangha on your father's behalf, always remember him and mention his name whenever you do good deeds

2. as for yourself, don't worry too much about what you will become , cultivate the dhamma, purify your mind, and chances are you won't be born into the ghost realm. Nirvana is best

I don't know much about Taoist rites, so I can only give you opinion based on Buddhism.

The best person to perform the Transfer of Merits is the relatives of the departed one, because he knows and remembers his former relatives, and the relatives also know him.

I mean, imagine ourselves in very suffering condition, sometimes a name of a person will come to our  mind that we hope can help us right? and if that person actually knows how, and comes to help us, we will benefit.

Usually transfer of merit in buddhism is done , by giving alms to the Sangha (community of monks), (food ,medicine, shelter , robes) - and there is an ancient formula to recite translated to "This is for my relative, may he be well and happy", best if followed by conviction and full understanding in the Karma of giving. 

Some families will invite monk to their house , to offer food (dana) on behalf of their departed ones.

As for your current situation, my advice
1. continue to give alms to the Sangha on your father's behalf, always remember him and mention his name whenever you do good deeds

2. as for yourself, don't worry too much about what you will become , cultivate the dhamma, purify your mind, and chances are you won't be born into the ghost realm. Nirvana is best

try the Sintao thread

hmm, maybe you should ask the temple that organizes the ritual lo, i also dunno much about it.

looks like a Taoist ritual

Chao-du

But Theravada buddhism transfer of merits is done in a different way, where the donation is given directly to the Monks on behalf of relatives.

For what's its worth, assuming (this you don't know for certain) that your late father

1. is in the Peta world (ghost)
2. knows you are doing something for him and rejoices in it
3. you are doing something for him , eg by giving alms on his behalf

he will already left the Peta world

So, don't worry too much. Just do what you can now.

actually the best transferring merits to your father is by chanting by you...

Cos u n your father got very strong karma bondage, that's why he become your father this life....

Not only chanting, everytime u do a good deeds like saving a cat/dog or u donate to temple, u also can transfer those merit to your father ....

According to ksitigarba sutra, every merit u transfer, your father only get 1/7 of the merit, balance 6/7 is yours.

got but not so good .... actually any word u chant also got effect ...

the power is in the repetition n the vibration on the word + concentration

not the word itself