Youth hostel push for isolation hubs

Jane Cheung

A part of a 3,000-unit Covid isolation facility in Kai Tak could be turned into a youth hostel and rented out at 40 percent below market price, sources said.

After Hong Kong scrapped its compulsory isolation order for Covid patients Monday, only the facility in Penny's Bay still allows Covid patients to quarantine.

Authorities have put the other seven facilities - including a never-used 10,056-bed makeshift hospital built at the Lok Ma Chau Loop - on standby.

Sources said authorities are considering turning a part of the 3,000 rooms at the Kai Tak facility into a youth hostel to solve the city's pressing housing demands - especially among youngsters who cannot afford sky-high property and rental prices.

The quarantine center was erected using modular integrated construction techniques, with units built in a factory on the mainland and then shipped to Hong Kong for assembling. Each block is four stories high with elevators.

The average floor area is 193 square meters per unit, which comes with a television and a steamer, as well as an individual toilet. Some of the rooms face the Victoria Harbour.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said authorities are open to using the Kai Tak facility for light public housing as well.

Sources said authorities found the facility more suitable than other makeshift hospitals to be turned into residential units.

On Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he has assigned Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun to assess future arrangements for the closed facilities.

"I've asked him to be in charge of this operation by evaluating possible epidemic, social and livelihood needs," Lee said.

"[Wong will] study every aspect to ensure Hong Kong is equipped with certain contingency facilities while releasing the land and repurposing isolation facilities in phases."

Wong's office said yesterday he has begun the efforts but added it takes time to complete the analyses.

"There are no conclusions yet," the office said. "But we will push for progress as soon as possible."

In October, Lee pledged in his maiden policy address to expand the youth hostel scheme and to turn some hotels into youth residences operated by non-government organizations.

His target was to offer 3,000 beds in five years and with rents at not more than 60 percent of the market price.