Hong Kong plans three university towns in Northern Metropolis to boost education and innovation
Hong Kong's education chief outlined plans for three university towns in the Northern Metropolis, focusing on medicine, AI, and smart manufacturing. The government has set aside HK$10 billion in loans and symbolic land grants to attract local and international institutions, aiming to integrate educa
Hong Kong's Secretary for Education outlined plans for three university towns in the Northern Metropolis during a Legislative Council debate on 8 October, emphasising their role in driving higher education expansion and international competitiveness. The government has set aside HK$10 billion in loans and will offer symbolic land grants to support self-financing institutions, the secretary said.
The three towns – in San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, and Ta Kwu Ling – will each have distinct focuses. San Tin will concentrate on medicine, life and health technology, artificial intelligence, and microelectronics, leveraging resources from the Lok Ma Chau Loop and San Tin Technopole. Hung Shui Kiu will target smart manufacturing and applied education, with three campus sites already launched. Ta Kwu Ling will incorporate arts and ecology to support emerging industries, with reserve space for long-term strategic needs.
The government has upgraded the former university town planning unit to a committee with non-official experts to strengthen oversight and international input, the secretary said. Institutions are encouraged to use their own reserves, bonds, and market capital to fund construction.
The secretary stressed that vocational and professional education will also be expanded alongside traditional academic tracks, with plans to promote applied science universities and increase applied degree programmes. International collaboration will be sought to enhance quality and recognition.
In basic education, the secretary supported integrating AI into classrooms, boosting STEAM and digital education to improve students' AI literacy. Teacher training will be strengthened, and cross-sector partnerships will build a digital education ecosystem.
The secretary also highlighted national education as a core mission, with plans to expand the Constitution and Basic Law student ambassador programme to all government-funded primary and secondary schools, and to launch a new national security online education platform.