The task group on the proposed third medical school in Hong Kong met on Saturday with representatives of the three universities that submitted proposals for the establishment of the school to gain a better understanding of their submissions.

The Task Group on New Medical School, co-chaired by Secretary for Health Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau and Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin, had in-depth discussions with representatives of Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

"Establishing a third medical school is an important project in the development of medical education in Hong Kong,” Lo said. “I am pleased to see the positive feedback from the three universities that submitted detailed proposals within a specified period.”

During the two-hour sessions held with each university, the task group’s expert advisers and representatives from policy bureaus had thorough discussions with university officials on the content of their proposals, including their innovative strategic positioning and financial sustainability.

“We also took the opportunity to further understand the preparatory work and resource plans underpinning each proposal, such as collaboration models with local and non-local partners and the allocation of resources for software and hardware of the curriculum, teaching manpower and student recruitment and training,” Lo said.

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He said the task group will enhance speed and efficiency in the next phase of its work, adopting a holistic and integrated approach in assessing the proposals to help in the development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as an international medical training, research and innovation hub.

“The 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education newly released by our nation strives to accelerate the development of world-class universities and advanced disciplines,” Choi said.

“To tie in with this important blueprint, Hong Kong is making forward-looking preparations for a third medical school to further enhance our status as an international post-secondary education hub.”

She said the new medical school is expected to not only to drive the overall advancement of the host university but also to strengthen Hong Kong's competitiveness on the global stage.

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“Strategically located in the Northern Metropolis University Town with a prime geographic location, the new medical school has immense potential for fostering synergy among academia, research, and industry within the vicinity and the Greater Bay Area,” Choi said.

“We hope the selected university will seize this valuable opportunity to take Hong Kong's medical academic and research excellence to new heights through active collaboration within the region."

Established in October last year, the task group include seasoned local, Chinese mainland and overseas academics in medical education and university management, professionals, representatives from the Medical Council of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, and representatives from SAR government bureaus and departments.

The task group invited on Dec 2, 2024 all University Grants Committee-funded universities interested in establishing the new medical school to submit proposals by March 17 this year, and three proposals were received by the deadline.