“Hostels in the City” Scheme: 41 Applications Approved, Providing About 10,800 Hostel Places in Future; First Site for Hostel Development to Be Tendered This Financial Year

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In recent years, academic places in Hong Kong have become highly sought after, directly driving up demand for student hostels. The Development Bureau, together with the Education Bureau, launched the “Hostels in the City” Scheme last year, relaxing policy barriers to facilitate the conversion or redevelopment of existing commercial buildings into student hostels. A total of 41 applications have been confirmed as eligible under the scheme, providing about 10,800 hostel places in future. The Development Bureau will also put the first student hostel site up for sale within this financial year for the market to bid for the construction of new hostels.

🏗️ 7 Conversion Cases Involving at Least 2,100 Hostel Places
The above measures provide a new way out for Grade B and Grade C commercial buildings with high vacancy rates. Many consortia have entered the student hostel market, triggering a wave of conversions. According to statistics, the Town Planning Board has so far approved 7 conversion cases, mainly commercial building projects, involving at least 2,100 hostel places. The largest private project is the revitalised commercial building LT Tower in Kwun Tong, held by “Corduroy King” Kong Tat-ho, which has been approved for conversion from commercial use to a student hostel, providing 266 rooms (including 31 single rooms and 243 double rooms), involving 517 beds.

🎓 HKU’s Ming Tak Village the Largest Approved Case
Apart from private owners applying for conversion, even universities are converting their properties into student hostels to alleviate the pressure of insufficient hostel places. This includes the University of Hong Kong’s Ming Tak Village project at Pok Fu Lam, currently three 13-storey staff quarters blocks with a total floor area of about 195,900 square feet. In July this year, it was approved by the Town Planning Board for full conversion into a student hostel providing about 900 hostel places, the largest among approved conversion cases.

💬 Industry: Converting Commercial Buildings Is Cost-Effective and Quickly Responds to Demand
Industry analysts point out that with commercial building vacancy rates remaining high in recent years, converting existing buildings into educational resources is a cost-effective solution that can quickly respond to demand, while also promoting rational land allocation and maximising social benefits. On the other hand, the biggest advantage of student hostels is providing students with targeted and one-stop services, including full furniture sets for “move-in with just a bag,” security systems, rent including utilities and internet fees, and a conducive learning atmosphere.