Hong Kong relaxes licensing for rural guest houses and campsites

The Hong Kong government, through the Home Affairs Department, has relaxed licensing requirements for rural holiday camps and village guest houses to encourage more tourist accommodation outside city centers. Two new guides were published on Monday: a first-ever stand-alone guide specifically for village houses in the New Territories, and an enhanced guide for holiday campsites covering buildings, caravan sites, and tent camping areas. These measures stem from Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s 2025 policy address promoting immersive rural tourism.

The village house guide offers significant flexibility: for properties built before 1961 that may not meet current construction standards, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) can consider alternative proposals on structural safety, fire-resistant construction, means of escape, lighting, and ventilation on a case-by-case basis, as long as equivalent safety and health standards are proven. Specific allowances include properties located more than 30 meters from an access road or 100 meters from a street fire hydrant, where operators may instead provide 20 kg wheeled dry-powder fire extinguishers and self-contained battery-operated smoke detectors meeting international standards. The campsite guide similarly eases requirements for temporary structures and caravan parks.