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Hostels' reduced opening linked to minimum wage

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The Youth Hostels Association has begun closing four of its seven hostels for three days every week, and says the introduction of the minimum wage is partly to blame.

It also cites a lack of resources and low visitor numbers for the decision to shut the hostels at Pak Sha O, Chek Keng, Ngong Ping and Tai Mo Shan every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, unless there are group bookings.

But legislators point out the government gave it the sites for hostels for a nominal fee, and says the organisation has used public resources injudiciously. They say they will scrutinise the association's financial standing.

The non-profit organisation, which recently won the right to turn a 1950s Shek Kip Mei complex into a youth hostel as part of a heritage conservation project with the government, said that running the hostels every day of the year is financially unsustainable.

The reduced opening hours have been in force since May 1.

Some employers have been accused of reducing employees' working hours now that they have to pay them a minimum of HK$28 an hour.

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