New affordable housing set aside for Hong Kong youth – here's everything you need to know

Applications are now open for the Hong Kong government's youth housing projects, but one requires you to commit to 200 hours of community service in exchange for affordable rent.

High population density, limited land availability and high living costs have long made Hong Kong a difficult place to find affordable housing. Many young Hongkongers have no choice but to live in cramped, expensive, small flats no bigger than a parking space or with their families. The government has taken various measures to alleviate the housing crisis, including the recently launched Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis.

Aimed at providing affordable housing for young Hongkongers, the new 27-storey youth hostel developed by the charity Po Leung Kuk could benefit over 1,600 young Hongkongers aged 18 to 30. Located in Yuen Long, the hostel has 816 single rooms with an area of about 179 to 214 sq ft each. In addition, there are432 double rooms with an area of about 199 to 240 sq ft each.

The appeal of these rooms is that they cost only about 50% of market rates. A single room costs between HK$2,950 and HK$3,750 per month, while a double room costs between HK$3,100 and HK$4,200 monthly. The rooms are available on two-year contracts for the first lease, which you can renew, but the maximum period is five years.

To put things into perspective, for that kind of price, you can usually only find subdivided flats of about 100 sq. ft. in the New Territories.

A selection process will begin in April, and the first batch of successful applicants will move in by May. To apply, you must be a Hong Kong resident aged 18 to 30 as of March 31, 2023. The applicant must work full-time, part-time or be self-employed; full-time students are not eligible.

A single-room applicant must have an average monthly income of no more than HK$25,000 and a total net asset value of no more than HK$380,000. The combined income of applicants seeking double rooms must not exceed HK$70,000 a month on average, while their combined net asset value should not exceed HK$760,000.

A similar project, BeLIVING Youth Hub in Causeway Bay, was also recently approved for turning into a youth hostel. The former hotel on Morrison Hill Road will have a total 97 rooms, providing up to 194 places for young people aged between 18 and 31 whose monthly salary does not exceed HK$25,000. The rooms will range from 176 to 324 square feet, and successful applicants would pay a monthly rent of between HK$3,800 and HK$4,800 for a place.

Last year, Chief Executive John Lee promised to provide about 3,000 more discounted hostel places for young people at first Policy Address, but tenants are required to complete at least 200 hours of community service.

However, the president of Po Leung Kuk, Daniel Chan, said that candidates were not required to fulfill community service hours “but they are encouraged to”. BeLIVING Youth Hub said tenants would earn their places by completing 200 hours of volunteer work. According to the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau's guidelines, community service projects include tutoring underprivileged pupils.

The application deadline for the Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis is April 3, 2023, while BeLIVING Youth Hub's deadline is April 28, 2023.