Institutions interested in building campuses in Hung Shui Kiu, one of three university towns that has been prioritised for development in the Northern Metropolis, can begin submitting applications, Secretary for Education Christine Choi said on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference on initiatives in Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the annual Policy Address, she said authorities have made available three areas where eligible institutions can apply to develop campuses in the university town.

The first lies west of the planned Hung Shui Kiu station on the Tuen Ma line and comprises 11 sites.

The second, north of the station project, consists of three sites and is adjacent to enterprise and technology sites and housing sites.

The third is a single site next to the modern logistics cluster.

Choi said institutions may apply for land in one area or in several areas at the same time for different purposes, such as building permanent campuses, relocating existing campuses, providing or upgrading teaching and ancillary facilities, and constructing student hostels.

She pointed out that institutions looking to set themselves up in the university town will be required to promote complementary advantages and coordinated development across its areas through curricula, talent cultivation, industry-academia-research collaboration and shared facilities.

The university towns, Choi stressed, should serve as engines linking education with industry, the community and the region.

The development sites should also help promote Hong Kong as an international education hub, with a focus on frontier interdisciplinary research, respond to the needs of key industries, cooperate with industries in the area and cultivate the required talent, she said.

Choi encouraged institutions to actively collaborate with renowned mainland and overseas institutions and leading enterprises, and to develop shared facilities.

On financing, she said the submission of loan proposals is voluntary and must comply with basic loan terms. Institutions may refer to indicative terms drawn up by the government and submit competitive loan proposals.

Those that do not require loans, or that submit competitive proposals, will receive priority consideration, Choi said.

According to the Education Bureau’s website, applications are due by December 31.

The Policy Address also indicated that sites in the Northern Metropolis will be allocated next year for international school development.

"The location and also the sites are still in a dynamic planning stage, so nearer the time when we find the demand, and also the population actually, and also the implementation of the Northern Metropolis University Town, then we will have more details nearer that time," Choi said.


Edited by Aaron Tam