Regal Oriental jumps on youth hostel bandwagon

Henry Siu

Part of the Regal Oriental Hotel in Kowloon City will be transformed into a youth hostel that will have 160 beds across 80 rooms, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said yesterday.

The new initiative, YOT Hub, is a collaboration between Yan Oi Tong and the Regal Hotels Group.

It is the fifth project under the Subsidy Scheme for Using Hotels & Guesthouses as Youth Hostels.

The monthly rent for individuals will range from HK$4,500 to HK$4,650, depending on room size, floor height and orientation.

To qualify, applicants must be permanent Hong Kong residents aged between 18 and 31 and not own any property here.

Eligible applicants must also be employed - whether full-time, part-time, or self-employed.

The income cap for single applicants is HK$28,000, with total assets not exceeding HK$398,000.

For two-person households, the income limit is HK$56,000, and total assets cannot exceed HK$796,000.

Online applications are now open.

The approval process is expected to take around 30 working days.

One of the project's key features is its commitment to enhancing youth understanding of national development opportunities through training, exchange, and internship programs.

It will also offer self-enhancement and support services, including financial management courses, career development workshops and mental health seminars.

Yan Oi Tong will establish a youth service team to engage young people in organizing community activities.

Regular volunteer services will be arranged to encourage youth participation and foster a sense of belonging and social responsibility.

A bureau spokesman said: "YOT Hub is well connected by public transport and surrounded by comprehensive community facilities. This project not only provides young people with a comfortable living environment but also offers avenues for personal development through various self-enhancement activities."

The bureau expressed its appreciation for the ongoing support from hotel and guesthouse operators in creating a nurturing environment for youth. "We will continue to collaborate with stakeholders who share our vision for advancing youth hostel projects," the spokesman said.