Increasing number of private residences turned into student dorms raise concern
發佈日期: 2026-03-22 19:21
TVB News
TVB News found several private residences have been modified into dormitories housing mainland secondary students studying in Hong Kong, with each unit charging a monthly rent of over 10,000 dollars.
Some lawmakers suggested that authorities should introduce a licensing system to regulate non-school-run dormitories.
Here at this To Kwa Wan unit, are a total of three rooms offering four bunk beds.
The manager wants to attract mainland students studying in the city.
The monthly rent for each bed costs between 15,000 and 16,000 dollars.
The manager of the unit said he never interferes with the lives of the students, and only require tenants to return before their curfew at 9:30 p.m.
Another similar unit in Kai Tak provide beds at the same monthly rent of around 15,000 dollars.
According to a real estate agency website, units in the same housing complex come at a monthly rent of between 32,000 and 37,000 dollars.
That means the manager of the unit could receive up to 120,000 dollars in monthly bed rentals alone if all eight beds are occupied.
The manager of the unit said two of the beds have been taken so far, adding that a family of four is looking into accommodation at his unit as well.
Under the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance, only units that lease 12 or more bedspaces need to provide a designated license, meaning that the aforementioned units are currently legal.
This as a manager of secondary school dormitories said it is better to have clear rules for those renting out such units to follow.
Sources said the education sector is planning to roll out special licenses targeting private residences-turned-dormitories, with some lawmakers suggesting that authorities could introduce better regulation.
Lawmaker Lawrence Tang from the Election Committee noted that further regulation could increase the responsibility of those managing such dormitories.
He stressed that dorm operators should provide relevant licenses proving their capability of running such services.
Meanwhile, the Education Bureau said the government regulates student dorms in accordance with different modes of operation, targeted tenants and quality of service.
The bureau further said it will take legal action against those suspected of operating such sites illegally.
