New hostel offers homely Oasis for 1,680 youngsters

The Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis in Shap Pat Heung, a youth hostel supported by Henderson Land Development, was officially opened yesterday, providing 1,680 residential places for youngsters.

The hostel aims to provide a comfortable living environment and offer young people a platform for personal and social development through various training courses and volunteer programs.

Martin Lee Ka-shing, the chairman and managing director of Henderson Land, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration between the government, the business sector and the community that made the project possible.

Since its opening, the hostel has received applications and welcomed its first batch of tenants in May of last year.

Currently, nearly 90 percent of the residential places have been occupied.The majority of the tenants are between the ages of 21 and 31, with over half falling into the 26-31 age range. And 2,300 young tenants have participated in more than 120 training courses, workshops, social activities and volunteer programs organized by the developer Po Leung Kuk.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki saidthe Youth Oasis, the second and so far the largest youth hostel in Hong Kong, not only addresses the housing needs of young people but also provides opportunities for them to enhance their life skills.

"It is very touching to see that young people have a good living environment and are supported by the community," Chan said.

Lee spoke about Henderson Land's commitment to creating a comfortable living environment for young people.

He expressed his satisfaction with the Youth Oasis serving as both a residence and a platform for personal development.He encouraged residents to take advantage of the hostel's facilities and services to foster a creative mindset, expand their network and exchange ideas with fellow tenants, ultimately making a positive contribution to society.

Lee also pledged to allocate more resources to support youth development in the future.

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen and deputy director-general of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR Chen Zetao were also present at the ceremony and were briefed on the lives of the youth residing in the hostel.

Two residents, Eric and Jacky, shared their experiences at the Youth Oasis.

Eric, who works in the technology field, said: "After moving to the hostel, I participated in filming and editing workshops, which boosted my self-confidence and encouraged me to try new things."

Jacky, who moved to the hostel due to poor living conditions at home, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in volunteer programs, which expanded his social network.

The Youth Oasis offers affordable rent, set at 50 percent of the market rate. Single rooms range from HK$2,950 to HK$3,750, while double rooms range from HK$3,100 to HK$4,200. Eligible youths can stay in the hostel for up to five years.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com