Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau says a working group will submit its recommendation on the establishment of the city’s third medical school to the Chief Executive before the Policy Address in September.

Three universities - Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - had earlier submitted proposals to operate the new medical school.

Lo said the working group, which comprises six experts, has already met with representatives from all three universities twice.

“We will summarise the proposals from the three universities. The working group will hold another meeting to discuss them. In the short term, we will provide our recommendations to the Chief Executive, who will decide whether to establish a third medical school and which university will run it,” Lo said during a HOY TV programme aired on Saturday.

Separately, Lo also mentioned the government’s plans to expand no-smoking areas beyond schools and hospitals to include tourist hotspots.

Under the “10 tobacco-control measures” unveiled by the Health Bureau in April, one proposal is to extend no-smoking zones to within three metres of entrances to schools and hospitals.

It would also empower the Secretary for Health to designate no-smoking areas “with specific time limits, conditions, or exemptions”.

“We are considering smoking bans in places with many children or students, such as school zones; hospitals and other areas with more elderly people; and also crowded tourist spots,” he said.

Lo pointed out that, since March, Shanghai had enforced stricter outdoor smoking regulations at eight popular tourist sites, saying such a move was beneficial to tourism.

“Many tourists dislike being exposed to second-hand smoke... Banning smoking in tourist hotspots could boost tourism,” he said.

Lawmakers will resume the second reading of the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill on September 10.