
Hong Kong Covid facility at old Kai Tak airport takes off as youth hostel, culture hub
The project, renamed 'Runway 1331' and located at the former Kai Tak airport, is expected to provide young people with opportunities for entrepreneurship, cultural exchange and talent development.
Named after the old airport's single airstrip, designated Runway 13/31, the project has been developed by Glorise Tourism and Culture, a joint venture between the central government-owned China Tourism Group and entrepreneur Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan. Chiu is also president of hotel chain Dorsett Hospitality International.
'We hope Runway 1331 ultimately will develop into the world's biggest incubator for the youth,' Chiu said on Sunday.
The accommodation is equipped with basics such as beds, televisions, tables and chairs. Photo: Sam Tsang
The project utilises 3,000 unused isolation rooms with private toilets located in dozens of four-storey buildings on an 11.5-hectare (28.4 acres) site. The isolation facility was built during the Covid-19 pandemic with the support of the central government.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Standard
4 hours ago
- The Standard
China's cross-dressing 'Red Sister' lurid tale takes the Internet by storm
New shopping mall Scramble Hill in Kwun Tong set to open with focus on families and youths


South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's rare earth exports swell in June as Beijing relaxes controls
China's rare earth exports surged in June to their highest level since December 2009, in what analysts said could be an early sign that recent behind-the-scenes agreements with the United States on the flow of critical minerals are beginning to bear fruit. Exports of the elements reached 7,742.2 tonnes last month – a 60 per cent increase from the 4,828.7 tonnes recorded in June 2024 – and a 32 per cent jump compared to the 5,865 tonnes reported this May, according to customs data. Rare earth exports have become a focal point for global trade in recent months, as Beijing tightened controls on shipments in April to assert its dominance over the supply chain – a move widely seen as a response to similar restrictions by the US on the flow of advanced semiconductors and increases to tariffs. Hints of a thaw emerged in late June, when the Wall Street Journal reported that six-month export licences had been issued to select American manufacturers. And last month, China's Ministry of Commerce said it would improve how it handles export approvals for European countries and make it easier for their businesses to engage in legitimate trade.


South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's monetary policy impact not yet unleashed, PBOC says with 5% GDP goal in mind
China's central bank intends to carefully calibrate the intensity and pace of its 'moderately loose' monetary policy implementation, taking steps to help the country's economy grow by Beijing's goal of around 5 per cent this year. Zou Lan, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, said on Monday that the agency would closely monitor and evaluate the transmission and actual effects of previously implemented measures. And any future steps would be based on domestic and international financial and economic conditions, as well as the performance of financial markets. 'Monetary policy operates with a lag, and the full impact of current measures is still unfolding,' Zou said at a press conference. 'The PBOC will continue to implement a moderately accommodative monetary policy. 'This approach aims to more effectively stimulate domestic demand, stabilise public expectations, invigorate market vitality, and support the achievement of this year's economic and social development goals and tasks.' Zou Lan, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, spoke at a press conference on Monday. Photo: Handout In May, the PBOC announced a raft of supportive measures to shore up China's economy and stabilise capital markets against the backdrop of trade negotiations with the United States. The reserve requirement ratio – the amount of cash that commercial banks must hold as reserves – was cut by 0.5 percentage points, and the seven-day reverse repo rate – a benchmark interest rate – was lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 1.4 per cent. The rate of housing accumulation fund loans and relending facilities rate were also slashed by 0.25 percentage points.