In a creative response to its ongoing housing crisis, Hong Kong has transformed a former Covid-19 quarantine facility into a youth hostel, offering affordable accommodation for young people struggling to find decent housing in one of the world’s most expensive property markets.

The new development, named Runway 1331 after the former airport runway it occupies in southern Kowloon’s Kai Tak area, officially began trial operations on Sunday. The project initially offers 250 rooms, with nightly rental rates starting at just HK$200 (approximately $25 or £19).

This initiative is part of Hong Kong’s broader Youth Hostel Scheme, which provides young adults with reasonably priced housing as they save to rent or buy homes of their own. With public rental housing wait times averaging five years, many low-income residents have turned to cramped, subdivided units often referred to as “coffin homes.”

Runway 1331 stands out not only for its affordability but also for its mission to foster a vibrant youth community. Unlike existing hostels under the scheme—both located in the New Territories and restricted to individuals aged 30 or below—this new facility accepts tenants up to the age of 40. Some rooms will even be offered rent-free to residents with creative skills, on the condition that they contribute to the community by hosting workshops and cultural events.

“We hope Runway 1331 will grow into the world’s largest incubator for youth,” said entrepreneur Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan, who is spearheading the project alongside a state-owned enterprise, according to the South China Morning Post.

Spanning 11.5 hectares (about 28.4 acres), the site contains roughly 3,000 rooms that were originally constructed as part of Hong Kong’s Covid-19 response. Each room includes a private bathroom, and the facility is expected to be fully operational later this year.

Government officials from the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau expressed hope that the new hostel will not only support local youth but also encourage cultural exchange between young people from Hong Kong, mainland China, and overseas.

The Kai Tak conversion is one of several pandemic-era quarantine facilities being repurposed amid increasing pressure from the public to address the city’s dire housing shortage. As Hong Kong moves beyond the pandemic, its former isolation centers may offer a new beginning for thousands seeking a stable place to call home.