Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday consulted 33 post-secondary education institution representatives to collect their views on the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town.
The consultation, described by participants as lively and robust, was part of the special administrative region government’s broader effort to formulate Hong Kong’s first five‑year plan.
Topics at the meeting covered how institutions can expand their academic program offerings and strengthen overseas exchange collaborations, alongside the planning of the university town.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lee said he had received useful feedback.
Chairman of the University Grants Committee, Tim Lui Tim-leung, said the prospective five-year plan sets a clear direction for the education sector: developing the university town, building Hong Kong into an international education hub, and promoting the integrated development of education, technology, and talents.
“Its flexible framework with no preset restrictions on models or projects shows the government’s respect for institutional autonomy,” Lui said.
In addition, John Chai Yat-chiu, chairman of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Council, said participating representatives strongly endorsed the development model that Lee earlier pledged: to expand the proposed university town from 100 hectares to a 1,000‑hectare “university district” integrating education, innovation and technology, talent, industry, and urban development.
Chai said that the proposed area will cover mature innovation parks like San Tin Technopole and Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, thus conceptually enlarging the university town to that scale — a concept he welcomes and finds groundbreaking.
Lui also said he believes that a complete ecosystem is essential to attract international talent and organizations.
