A former Covid quarantine facility in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong, has been converted into a youth hostel, addressing the city’s ongoing housing crisis. The site, named Runway 1331, opened for trial operations on October 15, 2023, providing 250 rooms for rent starting at HK$200 (approximately $25 or £19) per night. This initiative is part of Hong Kong’s Youth Hostel Scheme, which aims to offer affordable accommodation for young people as they work towards securing their own housing.
Hong Kong is infamous for its high housing costs and limited space. The average wait for public rental flats can extend to five years, pushing many residents to seek alternatives, such as subdivided flats or “coffin homes,” where multiple tenants share a single apartment. In response to this pressing issue, the Youth Hostel Scheme was introduced in 2020, enabling non-governmental organizations to establish and operate hostels catering to individuals aged 30 and below. The newly opened hostel in Kai Tak expands this demographic, allowing residents up to the age of 40.
Runway 1331: A Cultural Hub for Young People
Beyond providing accommodation, Runway 1331 aspires to be a cultural hub. Some rooms will be allocated rent-free to tenants with creative talents, who will contribute to the community by hosting workshops and events. Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan, the entrepreneur behind the project in collaboration with a state-owned enterprise, expressed hopes that the facility will become “the world’s biggest incubator for the youth,” according to the South China Morning Post.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau of Hong Kong envisions this initiative as a means to foster connections among local young people and their peers from mainland China and abroad. The site spans 11.5 hectares (approximately 28.4 acres) and consists of 3,000 previously unused quarantine rooms, each equipped with private toilets. Full operations are expected to commence later this year.
In light of the intense demand for housing, calls have grown for the repurposing of Covid quarantine facilities into residential spaces. The Kai Tak hostel is one of several sites constructed during the pandemic, many of which have the capacity to accommodate hundreds of thousands of residents. As Covid restrictions have been lifted, the discussion surrounding the conversion of these facilities into housing has intensified, reflecting the urgent need to address Hong Kong’s long-standing housing shortage.
The launch of Runway 1331 marks a significant step in providing affordable living options for the city’s youth, while also creating a vibrant community space aimed at nurturing creativity and collaboration among young people.