Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn on Wednesday said successful bidders of three sites, which are being earmarked for student hostels, must transfer ownership of the entire plot to another party if they need to sell.

She added they cannot subdivide part of these sites and sell them on to others; it must be for the entire plot.

Developers have until March 20 to submit their expression of interest for post-secondary student hostel development at sites in Kai Tak, Sha Tin and Tung Chung East which are expected to offer 4,500 spots in total.

Linn told Metro Radio on Wednesday that the government is considering stipulations, to make it clear on the lease, that ownership can only be transferred as a whole and can't be separated out.

She was also asked if the Tung Chung East site was remote.

"We chose Tung Chung because it is a newly developed area and the site is very close to the MTR station. The station is due to open in 2029," she said.

"In the case of Hong Kong, we believe that you can travel anywhere, so it's a good option."

At least one site can be put up for sale as soon as 2026/27, depending on the market's response.

She said the reference tender price set by the Lands Department will be based on the fact that these sites will be used for student hostels instead of residential properties.

Lau Chun-kong, chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors' land policy panel, told RTHK that developers could take 36 months or less, instead of the government's proposed 48-month period, to complete the construction of the hostels, if the approval process can be sped up.