Eugene Wong, Partner at Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM), on the student accommodation as outlined in the 2026 Policy Address:
The Hong Kong SAR Government’s initiatives to expand student hostels supply and accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town are welcome steps for supporting Hong Kong’s aspiration to strengthen its position as an international education and talent hub. The introduction of the proposed Code of Practice for Operating Student Hostels is also encouraging, as it will provide further clarity and consistency for operators, investors and educational institutions. Clear standards on accommodation, safety and management will help support the sustainable growth of the student accommodation sector while enhancing confidence in the quality of housing available to non-local students.
We also expect that the Government’s continued efforts to promote Hong Kong as an international education hub, including the “Study in Hong Kong” and “Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) Expansion” initiatives, will attract more non-local students at different life stages to come to Hong Kong to further their education. We are therefore anticipating increasing demand for boarding and hostel accommodation at the secondary school level. We look forward to further Government initiatives as well as private investments that facilitate the development of student accommodation across different stages of education, helping to support Hong Kong’s long-term talent attraction and education strategies.
