The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today (April 26) approved the second project under the Subsidy Scheme for Using Hotels and Guesthouses as Youth Hostels from the Y.Elites Association.

     To help further meet the housing needs of young people and assist with their development, the Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address that the Government will explore ways to increase the supply of youth hostels, including subsidising non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for use as youth hostels, with the target of providing about 3 000 additional hostel places within five years. To this end, the HYAB launched the Subsidy Scheme in early January 2023 to subsidise NGOs to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for use as youth hostels. The HYAB has approved the first project under the Subsidy Scheme in March 2023.

     The youth hostel under the second project approved under the Subsidy Scheme is located in Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West, with a total of 100 rooms, providing up to 200 hostel places with communal facilities such as cooking facilities. The project is launched by the Y.Elites Association in collaboration with the Nina Hospitality. One of the features of the project is to provide young tenants with opportunities to further their studies outside workplaces to enhance their skillsets and scale up their employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. It will also aim to deepen young people's understanding of the country's history, culture and arts through the Y.Elites Association's membership network. In addition, the Y.Elites Association has also partnered with Nina Hotel to allow young tenants to use some hotel facilities at affordable prices. Details about the project and the means of application will be announced on the Y.Elites Association's website (www.home2yh.hk/).
 
     A spokesperson of the HYAB said, "The Y.Elites Association's youth hostel project is centrally located in the New Territories West and close to railway station and large-scale malls. It is accessible and well connected with community facilities in the district, which will not only facilitate the travel of young tenants but also help them participate in social outreach activities. The HYAB will continue to collaborate with NGOs and relevant stakeholders who share our vision in inspiring our youths and brightening our future."

     Details about the Subsidy Scheme, including the guidelines to application and the application forms, have been uploaded onto the HYAB's website (www.hyab.gov.hk/en/policy_responsibilities/Social_Harmony_and_Civic_Education/youth_hostel_scheme.htm). Relevant organisations can submit their applications to the HYAB by post, email or other means.

Ends/Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Issued at HKT 14:30

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