Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony

Diversified facilities and services support youths to lay solid foundations for future development

(23 September 2020, Hong Kong) In support of the HKSAR Government’s “Youth Hostel Scheme”, Po Leung Kuk is building the Hong Kong’s largest youth hostel, on the lot in Yuen Long donated by the Lee Shau Kee Foundation – The Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis. The foundation works of the project has been completed, and a foundation stone laying ceremony was held today with officiating guests, Mr. Casper TSUI, JP, Secretary for Home Affairs, and Mr. Martin LEE, JP, Chairman of Henderson Land Development Group. The youth hostel will offer 1,680 residential places for renting by youths at half of the market price. The Kuk will also provide various services such as career planning, to assist young people to build capacity, share with peers and expand networking for future development.   

Youth Oasis, the naming of this largest youth hostel in Hong Kong, implies this space is full of dynamics, culture, enlightenment and support for youth to equip themselves. Po Leung Kuk put great emphasis and efforts in collecting the young people’s opinions during the preparation. Youth focus groups have been carried out since last year to incorporate the ideas of young people into the project. The Kuk has rolled out the “City．Oasis” Community Map Design Competition earlier, encouraging young people to explore and share the surroundings and stories around the Youth Oasis, and promote local features from the users’ perspectives. In addition, an interior design event “Ideal Home” will be held to ask for young people’s suggestions on the furnishings of the hostel, so as to create an ideal living space together.

In her speech, Ms. Daisy C. F. HO, Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, stated that the laying of foundation stone marked the new stage of the Youth Oasis. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the steadfast support and trust of the HKSAR Government, Dr. the Hon LEE Shau Kee and the stakeholders in the district, enabling the smooth development of the project and set out three major “pillars” for the youths, including accumulating capital and knowledge, expanding personal networks and providing the opportunities to jointly participate in the construction blueprint of the Youth Oasis.

Mr. Casper TSUI, JP, Secretary for Home Affairs, said in his speech that the Government has constantly cooperated with Po Leung Kuk in delivering a range of youth services, including C³ Co-working Space for Youth, Po Leung Kuk Youth Entrepreneur and Housing Support Services, assisting young people to unleash their creativity and seizing the opportunities for a better future. He also pointed out that the Government has initiated various measures to support young people, which required collaboration from all walks of life. The Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis has demonstrated a good example of the quadripartite cooperation between the Government, business sectors, the public and local communities in achieving the goal. 

The building works of the Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis has begun in the immediate aftermath of receiving funding approval for construction works by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in 2018. Followed by the completion of the foundation works, the superstructure works will commence immediately thereafter. The youth hostel is estimated for completion in the first half of 2022 and will be opened for applications six months ahead of intake.  

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