HKUST consults over accommodation plan

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has launched a consultation on a points system for allocating student accommodation, a move that will make it harder for local students living in remote areas to secure a place.

The consultation for the proposed Hall Allocation System for Undergraduate Students is expected to close on February 12 with an open forum on campus.

Under the old housing regulations, students living in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, the northern district, southern Hong Kong Island and outlying islands were guaranteed a residential place.

The proposed system would assign points to hall applicants according to the distance of their homes from the university, their contribution to campus life, outstanding achievements and academic excellence.

Local students living in remote areas could get up to 38 out of 40 points in the distance category with non-local students getting full points. In the 60-point contribution category, students would have to make up more points by participating in extra-curricular activities such as sports events and taking up leadership roles in university clubs and associations.

It has been proposed the system guarantee local students a one-semester hall of residence place in their first year of study and non-local students a place for their first two years of study.