Secretary for Education Christine Choi on Monday said tenders for three campus sites in the first of three university town areas designated for the Northern Metropolis would be launched within two months.

The three plots in Hung Shui Kiu – which along with Ngau Tam Mei and New Territories North form the three university town areas envisaged for the mega project – will offer a land area of 22.4 hectares in total.

In an interview with local newspapers, Choi said the largest of the three plots – spanning 12.7 hectares – would be developed in phases.

Land formation for the first five hectares in this plot is expected to be completed by the end of this year, which, she said, will also be when the results of the tender would be made known.

Another five hectares will be ready by the end of next year, and the first phase of buildings is expected to be completed in two to three years, she added.

The other two plots to be opened up for bidding measure 5.3 hectares and 4.4 hectares.

The government would not restrict bids to individual applicants, she added, noting that institutions are encouraged to bid jointly and collaborate with enterprises, with 19 expressions of interest already having been received.

Applicants must also submit a proposal detailing their development plans, she added.

Choi also pointed out that the core campus land area for the university town would be expanded to roughly 300 hectares, triple that of that originally envisaged.

Part of the additional land, Choi said, allows officials to reserve strategic white space to support future development needs.

The government has also set aside HK$10 billion for loans to support institutions.





Edited by Tony Sabine