A Covid quarantine facility is being turned into housing for Hong Kong youths
Named Runway 1331 in honour of the old Kai Tak Airport, this site is part of our government's Youth Hostel Scheme, which works towards housing young people at more affordable rates so they can save up to rent or potentially buy their own homes in the future. Currently, there are two facilities in the New Territories with an age limit for applicants capped at 30 years old, but this new Kai Tak venue offers rooms to Hongkongers aged 40 or below.
This facility is one of the nine isolation sites built during the pandemic to quarantine coronavirus-positive patients, but has been left empty ever since. The 28.4-acre site houses 2,900 rooms with private bathrooms, as well as basketball courts, shared workspaces, a performance venue, and common areas for arts and culture activities. It has recently started trial operations by offering 250 rooms with rental prices starting at just $200 per night. With rents being between $3,000 and $6,000 per month for long-term tenants, Runway 1331 seems a far better alternative to subdivided flats or our city's notorious 'coffin homes'.
Aside from being a place to live, the youth hostel project is also aiming to become 'the world's biggest incubator for the youth', with tenants expected to contribute to the hostel community by sharing their skills through workshops or organising other events. There will also be at least 100 rooms set aside to be given rent-free to tenants with creative talents.
Runway 1331 is expected to be fully operational later this year towards September, with future admission criteria to be announced. To promote international cultural exchange, these accommodations will be open to youths of all nationalities, but we can expect priority to be given to applicants with talents in cultural, artistic, or entrepreneurial fields.
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The Herald Scotland
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Time Out
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Time Out
21-07-2025
- Time Out
A Covid quarantine facility is being turned into housing for Hong Kong youths
If there's one negative thing we have to say about Hong Kong, it's that our houses are notoriously tiny and among the most expensive in the world. In light of our city's housing crisis, a Covid-19 quarantine facility in Kai Tak has been converted into a hostel for young people in Hong Kong. Named Runway 1331 in honour of the old Kai Tak Airport, this site is part of our government's Youth Hostel Scheme, which works towards housing young people at more affordable rates so they can save up to rent or potentially buy their own homes in the future. Currently, there are two facilities in the New Territories with an age limit for applicants capped at 30 years old, but this new Kai Tak venue offers rooms to Hongkongers aged 40 or below. This facility is one of the nine isolation sites built during the pandemic to quarantine coronavirus-positive patients, but has been left empty ever since. The 28.4-acre site houses 2,900 rooms with private bathrooms, as well as basketball courts, shared workspaces, a performance venue, and common areas for arts and culture activities. It has recently started trial operations by offering 250 rooms with rental prices starting at just $200 per night. With rents being between $3,000 and $6,000 per month for long-term tenants, Runway 1331 seems a far better alternative to subdivided flats or our city's notorious 'coffin homes'. Aside from being a place to live, the youth hostel project is also aiming to become 'the world's biggest incubator for the youth', with tenants expected to contribute to the hostel community by sharing their skills through workshops or organising other events. There will also be at least 100 rooms set aside to be given rent-free to tenants with creative talents. Runway 1331 is expected to be fully operational later this year towards September, with future admission criteria to be announced. To promote international cultural exchange, these accommodations will be open to youths of all nationalities, but we can expect priority to be given to applicants with talents in cultural, artistic, or entrepreneurial fields.
