Facilitation for market to increase number of student hostels to consolidate Hong Kong's status as education hub
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"Our policy objective is to create a clear and easy-to-follow operational framework that is in compliance and cost-efficient, while putting in sufficient measures to ensure that hostels under the Scheme fulfil the Government's requirements", a Government spokesman said.
Specifically, operators may make use of the facilitation measures under the Scheme to apply for converting commercial buildings into eligible student hostels. In terms of planning procedures, the Town Planning Board has already expanded the definition of "Hotel" under the planning regime to cover eligible student hostels under the Scheme. As a result, since "Hotel" is an "always permitted use" in most commercial sites, no planning procedures would be required for converting those commercial buildings into student hostels. Under the buildings regime, converted student hostels under the Scheme will continue to be treated as non-domestic buildings for plot ratio and site coverage calculations, meaning that the existing gross floor area (GFA) of the commercial building can be retained. Moreover, facilities previously exempted from GFA calculations before conversion (e.g. car parking spaces and loading/unloading areas) can be retained and continue to be exempted from GFA calculation, so as to facilitate developers/operators to flexibly convert these facilities into facilities supporting hostel uses (e.g. gyms, study rooms, etc.) so that the hostel better suits the study and daily needs of the student tenants. In terms of land administration, most of the leases stated for non-industrial use allow student hostel use without the need for lease modification or payment of premiums. For the small number of cases where a lease modification is needed, the Lands Department will assess the amount of premium payment.
The Scheme welcomes wholesale conversion of an entire commercial building into a student hostel, while permitting partial conversion if specific conditions are fulfilled.
Industrial buildings and buildings in industrial zonings are not eligible under the Scheme. However, commercial buildings that have undergone wholesale conversions from industrial buildings located on non-industrial zonings would be eligible under the Scheme, provided that the relevant land administration procedures have been completed.
Interested developers/operators need to submit applications to the EDB using a prescribed form, and fulfil eligibility criteria under the Scheme, including:
(a) student hostels under the Scheme should be occupied by full-time local or non-local students of specified eligible institutions operating locally accredited post-secondary programmes at the sub-degree or degree levels. For operational flexibility, the Scheme allows occupation of at most 10 per cent of hostel places by persons who are affiliated with eligible institutions, such as wardens and visiting scholars, etc;
(b) conversion works should be completed within 18 months (the EDB may consider granting an extension based on actual circumstances in consultation with relevant bureaux/departments);
(c) hostel rooms must not be sold off individually; and
(d) developers/operators must take all necessary and reasonable measures to ensure that the operation of the hostel complies with relevant statutory and administrative requirements, while also striving to maintain a safe and suitable living environment for students.
​When submitting applications, developers/operators must sign a statutory declaration that the eligibility criteria under the Scheme will be complied with. While the student hostel under the Scheme is in operation, a certified audit report is required to be submitted to the EDB annually, certifying that the eligibility criteria under the Scheme have been duly complied with during the reporting period. Proper records should also be maintained to demonstrate that the operator has continuously complied with the criteria. In case of non-compliance, the Government will take appropriate enforcement actions based on the aforementioned statutory declaration, land lease, and relevant ordinances.
The Government has launched the dedicated website of the Scheme (www.studenthostel.gov.hk) to announce the Scheme's details. The EDB will also publish the list of student hostels with approvals secured on the website in the future. The Development Projects Facilitation Office (DPFO) under the DEVB will provide one-stop facilitation services to applicants, including handling enquiries related to facilitation measures and application progress. Telephone and email contacts of the EDB and the DPFO are available on the dedicated website.
Ends/Monday, July 21, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:18
Issued at HKT 19:18
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