Home and youth affairs minister Alice Mak said on Sunday that a new youth facility in Kai Tak will offer an exchange platform for youngsters from around the world.

The setting up of the "Youth Post" hostel and spaces for cultural and arts exchanges was first laid out by Chief Executive John Lee in his policy address last October.

The facility, which was transformed from Covid-19 isolation camps, will be in operation from October.

Its operator has promised to host 14 public activities per year, and a bazaar each month in its first year.

Speaking on a TVB programme, Mak said the new venue aims to attract young people from overseas.

"When we speak to youths from different places, they often say it is difficult to find a place to live in Hong Kong," she said.

"So we hope by building the hostel for them, we could encourage and invite youths to come to Hong Kong, fostering more exchanges."

She pointed out that the facility, along with the cruise terminal and Sports Park nearby, could jointly hold activities to attract visitors to the area.

Separately, Mak said her bureau has been preparing for different activities throughout the year for the "Night Vibes" campaign.

She said there has been a good response since the project was rolled out last year, with businesses saying they recorded a 30 percent increase in sales during the Songkran festival last month in Kowloon City.

Mak added that the campaign not only encourages people to stay in the city, but also strengthens their sense of belonging to their community and coordinates the use of community resources.