A growing number of Chinese mainland internet café (net café) brands are expanding into Hong Kong, marketing themselves as low-cost overnight options with features such as private booths, reclining seats, and, at some locations, showers and laundry facilities. The trend has triggered debate over safety, fire risk, and regulatory oversight, as the Hong Kong SAR government considers tightening rules to prohibit internet cafés from providing accommodation services.
A reporter from Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po visited five internet cafés in Mong Kok and found overnight pricing ranging from HKD 40 for a late-night time slot (8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at one venue, then charged hourly) to HKD 288 for higher-end single-person booths offered by a mainland chain brand. Some venues offered paid toiletries, hair dryers, washing machines, and shower rooms. Two of the most expensive single booths at one venue featured a single sofa bed that can lie flat; other venues provided booths with gaming chairs that recline close to 180 degrees for rest.
The report noted that social media posts on Xiaohongshu promoting "overnight internet café booths in Hong Kong" have drawn significant attention, with users sharing tips on how to stay overnight at relatively low cost.
Under Hong Kong's Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, premises that provide paid accommodation for periods shorter than 28 consecutive days must hold a relevant license. One internet café displayed a prominent notice stating it was an internet computer service center providing only gaming and online entertainment and prohibiting overnight stays. However, when asked whether a "12-hour play" package had time restrictions or barred staying overnight, staff reportedly said there was no such limit, implying customers could remain on-site for the entire duration depending on the chosen hours.
Across the five venues visited, the report described maze-like booth layouts and multiple intersecting corridors that could make navigation difficult without signage. It also stated that clear, prominent markings for fire escape routes were not observed, raising concerns that evacuation could be difficult in the event of a fire.
Hong Kong's Home Affairs Department said its licensing authority is stepping up enforcement against unlicensed accommodation. It reported conducting nearly 6,200 inspections from July last year to June this year and receiving more than 650 complaints over the same period concerning enforcement of the ordinance. Since March 2026, it has increased surprise inspections of internet cafés, identified suspected cases of providing lodging, and collected evidence that may lead to prosecutions for operating without a license.
The department noted that operating unlicensed accommodation is a criminal offense; upon conviction, penalties can include up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to HKD 500,000, with an additional daily fine of HKD 20,000 for continuing offenses.
Some mainland visitors interviewed said internet cafés provide an affordable emergency overnight option, especially given Hong Kong's higher hotel prices, and expressed concern that removing such options could lead them to shorten their future trips or opt for same-day return travel. Others cited uneven standards among venues, including worries about personal safety, smoking, noise, and overall conditions.
In an overnight test at one venue on Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mong Kok, the report described bright lighting and constant noise in open areas, while private booths offered more privacy but were cramped, with limited room to move when lying flat. Ventilation and sound insulation were also described as average, and the report said it did not observe a clearly visible emergency exit route beyond the main entrance.
（Source: Hong Kong Wen Wei Po)
Related News:
Govt regulates internet cafés: Plans to ban providing lodging and introduce age restrictions
Comment