More mainland workers moving into dorm

Some 2,000 mainland construction workers will be living in a dormitory in Tam Mei, Yuen Long by the end of next month, its operator, Construction Industry Council, said.

Some 170 imported workers have already moved into the dormitory - an isolation facility during the Covid pandemic - since opening last month.

Workers are expected to move in batches to prevent them from swarming surrounding areas.

"I don't even need to bring a toothbrush," Zhang Jianmin, a worker from Jiangmen said, adding "I had everything I needed when I came here. In the beginning, the room facilities were new and the ventilation was not very good. Later, it improved."

He added that the dormitory is well-equipped with bedding and pillows that meet his daily needs.

The 10-hectare site, equivalent to 18 football fields, offers 1,800 flats where four workers share a room, allowing accommodation for 7,000 workers.

The administration approved 4,680 construction workers under 20 contracts in the first round of applications. The second round started October 1.

Authorities announced in June the importation of 12,000 mainland and foreign construction workers.

The isolation facility did not undergo much renovation for dormitory usage. While air-conditioners and WiFi are available, bathrooms and kitchenettes are communal.

Other facilities include laundry rooms, pantries, medical service rooms, public activity spaces, convenience stores, vending machines, cultural and recreational facilities, such as treadmills, table tennis tables, pool tables and basketball courts.

There are four recreation rooms available, and workers may have to line up if they want to use them. The administration said it would consider allowing them to use the facilities by reservation.

Another imported worker, Zhen Canhao, said: "Usually, our company will arrange a bus for us to go out. Let's say we want to go to Wong Tai Sin, we are allowed to go there. If we want to go to Avenue of Stars, we can also go there."

The dormitory, operating on a self-financing basis without public funds, opens at 6am and closes at 11pm every day.

The head of the management company of the dormitory, Eddy Tong Chi-chung, said: "We need to set rules for when they should work and rest. During the closure of the dormitory, workers have to register before going out and getting in. We want to avoid having workers wander around at night as it may affect the livelihood of surrounding residents. Hopefully, workers get back to the dormitory at a similar time."

"We are preparing shuttle buses for workers during their holiday to send them to public transport interchange," he added.

Each room is being rented out for HK$2,000 to HK$3,000, which is less than 10 percent of the workers' income. It is understood that workers earn HK$3,000 more in SAR than they would working in the mainland. Their income ranges from HK$20,000 to nearly HK$40,000.

The dormitory will be operating until the end of October 2025.

christine.tang@singtaonewscorp.com