(From left) Deputy Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (Youth Affairs) Wallace Lau Ka-ki, Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Shirley Lam Shuet-lai; Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen, and Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Clarence Leung Wang-ching unveil the Youth Development Blueprint at the press conference on Dec 20, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau of Hong Kong on Tuesday approved the first project under the city’s youth hostel scheme.
The youth hostel approved under the Subsidy Scheme for Using Hotels and Guesthouses as Youth Hostels encompasses an entire hotel on Morrison Hill Road in Causeway Bay, with 97 rooms to provide up to 194 hostel places.
The project was launched by the Hong Kong United Youth Association in collaboration with the Gale Well Group, according to the government.
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The youth hostel will be operated under the name of BeLIVING Youth Hub to provide a platform for youngsters to make use of their talent and enthusiasm for participation in social outreach activities.
In about two months since the Subsidy Scheme was opened for application in early January 2023, we have now approved the first project. This shows that the Scheme is supported by relevant stakeholders.
Spokesman, Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong
It will also furnish the youth tenants with support and value-added services in respect of career planning, entrepreneurship and realizing their dreams through the United Youth Association's membership network.
To help further meet the housing needs of young people and assist with their development, the Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address that the government will explore ways to increase the supply of youth hostels, including subsidizing non-governmental organizations to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for use as youth hostels, with the target of providing about 3 000 additional hostel places within five years.
In January this year, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launched the subsidy scheme to subsidize NGOs to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for use as youth hostels.
“In about two months since the Subsidy Scheme was opened for application in early January 2023, we have now approved the first project. This shows that the Scheme is supported by relevant stakeholders,” said a spokesman for the bureau.
In spite of the resumption of normal travel and the start of the travel industry's recovery, there are still hotel operators which participate in the scheme and collaborate with the government in pursuing youth development, it added.
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The bureau said it will continue to collaborate with non-governmental organizations and relevant stakeholders who share a vision to inspire young people and brighten their future.