Private developers will be allowed to convert hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories easier, the Development Bureau said.

The government is proposing the process be streamlined in an effort to boost student hostel supply to develop the SAR into an international education hub.

According to government statistics, there are 44,000 student dormitory units in Hong Kong in the current academic year.

That is far lower than the 190,000 full-time undergraduate and post-graduate students, among which nearly 80,000 are from outside Hong Kong.

The bureau said there is an urgent need to provide more student accommodation as SAR is expected to welcome more non-locals.

Currently, developers have to get approval to turn commercial buildings into student dormitories, whose classification as residential institutions excludes them from the "always permitted" purpose for these buildings.

To ease the restriction, the bureau is proposing the definition of hotel be expanded to include student hostels.

Under the new arrangement, developers will no longer need to go through any planning procedures to build student dormitories at these sites or convert existing buildings into such facilities.

In addition, the bureau will also encourage developers to utilise space by easing restrictions on floor area ratio.

A Development Bureau spokeswoman said the government hopes the new arrangement can boost the supply of privately-funded student dormitories in the short term.

She also said the government would not set standard rates for charges at these private dormitories. But developers must comply with government requirements in lighting and ventilation.

Developers interested in the scheme can file applications with the Education Bureau starting mid-July.