January 1999

Students paradise: Hotel-style hostel

By Wong Sze Man

Hotel-style hostels have been offered to students at Hong Kong Baptist University since September. Students who have joined the International Exchange Roommate Programme can apply to live with foreign students.

ngtortai.jpg 42k These students reside in Ng Tor Tai International House located on Renfrew Road at Kowloon Tong.
This building was originally an accommodation for visiting scholars, professionals who attend conferences, and tourists.

Mr. Ben Petty, head of the Inter-national Student Exchange Office, is in charge of the program.

He said, "The program aims to further internationalization of the university community and intergrate local students."

Thirty-two international students arrived at HKBU last semester. Most of them come from the United States and Canada.

According to Mr. Petty, this is the first group of exchange students for HKBU. Before that, there were occasionally a few of them who came to the university to study.

Doyle Ralph Cutright II comes from Aiderson-Broaddus College in the United States. He is now studying management and marketing at HKBU.

He commented: "I think this hostel is very similar to a hotel."

All the rooms in that hostel are air-conditioned. Besides, there is a small refrigerator, an individual washroom, a television set, a telephone and a wardrobe in every room.

Doyle's roommate, Mr. Chung Yin Kwan, a Year 3 student who studies government and international relations, thinks the charge of using telephone is too expensive.

"I have to pay two dollars for a five-minute phone call, it is a bit costly.

"However, the quality and sanitation of the hostel are good since our toilets are cleaned weekly," said Chung.

Laundry facilities such as washing machines and dryers are also provided.

Nevertheless, higher quality means higher rent. Residents in the hostel have to pay two thousand dollars per month.

Both Doyle and Chung admitted that the scheme is meaningful.

"This is a precious opportunity that I can live with a foreign student and share my views with him," said Chung.

"My horizon widened after joining the scheme and I developed different attitudes towards my life," he added.

Agreed Doyle: "I can discuss with Chung about different ideas and learn Cantonese from him."”

However, only a small proportion of students who joined the scheme have the opportunity to live with a foreign student.

Mr. Petty explained: "It is because we think that it is unfair to ask local students to live here for only one semester and then move out.

"As a result, we admitted 68 local students so that they can have a chance to live with an overseas student in either one of the two semesters."

There are certain criteria to choose the eligible students.

Mr. Petty said: "Those who live far away from the campus and participate actively in school activities will have a higher priority.

"A good grade point average is also necessary because the students have to communicate with foreigners."”

Despite the high rent and keen competition, there are still many applicants.

Said Mr. Petty: "There is a long list of interested students for the program."

	Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	University of Hong Kong	The Chinese University of Hong Kong	Lingnan University
Types of room	Double, triple, bunkbed rooms and apartments	Mainly double rooms but a few single rooms	Double and triple rooms	Double rooms
Air-conditioned	All rooms	Newly built hostels only	Newly built hostels only	All rooms
Facilities inside room	Single beds or bunk beds with mattresses, desks, chairs, bookshelves, electrical fans, wardrobes and sockets
Facilities in pantry	Sink, refrigerators, microwave oven, drinking fountain and electric water heater
Facilities in common room or lounge	Television sets, sofa and campus-wide computers	Television sets and sofa	A television set, sofa and campus-wide computers	A television set and sofa
Additional facilities and special services	Five telephones on each floor, mail delivery	Three telephones for each appartment, music room, computer room and mail delivery	One telephone in each room, music room, computer room and mail delivery	One telephone on each floor
Laundry	Four sets of washing machines, and dryers for each hostel	22 sets of washing machines and dryers	Four washing machines, two dryers and one dehydrator	Three sets of washing machines and dryers
Hostel fee	Double room: $9030	Double room: $8250	Double room: $6620	Double room: $8000

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