“No bid split for government’s Youth Post Hostel”

The government said on Wednesday it does not plan to split the tender for the proposed youth hostel and cultural exchange facility as this could run counter to its aim of promoting exchanges.

Chief Executive John Lee had announced in his keynote speech that authorities would convert the existing Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility into a youth post where young people from outside Hong Kong would stay and interact with locals.

Minister of Home Affairs and Youth Affairs Alice Mak said in an RTHK broadcast that splitting the bids would not be cost-effective and would also contradict the government’s aim in establishing the venue.

“The direction we offer is that the operator must have relevant experience. He doesn’t have to be responsible for the entire venue, which is so big, because there are a lot of different areas,” she said.

“It can look for groups or organizations that manage this place together. But if we were to split the tender, that would actually limit the operator’s plan for the use of that facility.”

Authorities hope to begin the tender process by the end of this year and open the facility in 2025.

And since officials were already preparing the tender for the tender, Mak emphasized that the operator must be financially independent.

“The operator has to consider how he wants to operate the site. He must be financially independent. The state will no longer invest. The state could also think about charging rent – I think the property will not be handed over. The operator needs to think about how to deal with its losses and profits.

As for improving the region’s transportation network, Mak said she hopes to work with other departments to address the issue.