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theme as a gimmick to lure tourists, storage space and level of privacy of the
hostel were refined.
“First, the bed is made larger and wider. Second, the cages are wrapped with
iron net, and that makes the design very practical as you can hang all your
personal items with hooks. When you leave, you can simply pull the curtain
down to create your own private space,” she explains.
What distinguishes Wontonmeen from other hostels is the homey feeling
it gives to every visitor and the authentic local experience that travellers yearn
for.
“Although we call ourselves a hostel, the hosts are always here,” Wong
says. Running on a “family-styled” basis, the hosts and guests maintain a very
close bonding, going beyond a mere landlord-and-tenant relationship. Besides
customizing their own tourist maps to provide local recommendation of plac-
es to visit in English, they would explore local food in Dai Pai Dong, a unique
form of open-air food stall in Hong Kong or even visit the anti-extradition bill
protest scenes with the tenants.
Apart from serving as a cultural exchange hub for tourists, Wontonmeen
also cooperates with other non-governmental organisations in Sham Shui Po
to launch community activities, such as guided tours, screenings of local films
and cooking workshops. It does not simply function as a hostel that attracts
foreigners but it also acts as a focal point that gathers and connects nearby
residents in the neighbourhood together.
Edited by Scarlet Shiu

offering both private and shared ac-
commodation for tourists. The design
of hostel rooms is inspired by caged
homes or cubicle apartments com-
monly found in densely-populated
districts, where rental rooms are divid-
ed into numerous small units, owning
to the skyrocketing property price and
high land rent in Hong Kong.
Such idea can be traced back to a
final year project conducted by one of
Choi’s students in her environmental
design class, who wants to improve
the living conditions of the caged
home.
Wong Ka-po, a part-time staff
member from Wontonmeen, points
out the design theme of the hostel is
borrowed from caged homes and sub-
divided units, but instead of using the