The Home Affairs Department’s Office of the Licensing Authority today released two guides to guesthouse licence applications.

The guides aim to help individuals to apply for licences to operate holiday camps in rural areas or home-stay lodgings in village houses.

The move aligns with an initiative announced in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address regarding the promotion of thematic tourism.

The two guides are an enhanced “Guide to Licence Applications for Guesthouse (Holiday Camp) Covering Building, Caravan & Tent Campsites” and the newly published “Guide to Licence Application for Guesthouse in Village House”.

The documents outline the building and fire safety requirements for holiday camps and village houses, and set out the prerequisites for operating of holiday camps and home-stay lodgings in rural areas.

With regard to holiday camps or village houses in remote areas which are not equipped with emergency vehicular access or street fire hydrants, the authority may, based on actual circumstances, permit applicants to adopt other fire safety measures such as installing wheeled-type dry powder fire extinguishers and self-contained smoke detectors.

For village houses built before 1961, which may not fully meet current prescribed construction standards, the authority may accept different proposals, based on their individual merits, in relation to structural safety, fire resistant construction, means of escape, lighting and ventilation, provided that these meet building safety requirements.

While prioritising building and fire safety, the authority will continue to remove barriers and lift restrictions to facilitate the operation of holiday camps and home-stay lodgings in rural areas, and will constantly review and enhance the licensing regime for guesthouses.