Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki on Wednesday led a delegation to the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province to learn about large-scale new area planning and construction for the Northern Metropolis University Town’s construction.

The delegation, which was joined by representatives from the eight HKSAR government-funded universities and Hong Kong’s education chief Christine Choi Yuk-lin, first visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center in Tongzhou district, touring the planning exhibition hall, the Yunhe Business District, the Beijing Library and the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing in the morning.

READ MORE: HK breaks ground with Northern Metropolis project to power AI goals

Chan said the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center has been developed into a world-class demonstration area through high-standard planning, and green and smart development, and is a model of integration between campus and city. He said he hopes to draw on its experience in relieving city functions, sharing resources, and innovation ecosystems, to provide practical inspiration for the top-level design, smart campus development and sustainable growth of Hong Kong’s planned university city.

READ MORE: HK lawmakers tour Northern Metropolis, hail updates on progress

During the afternoon’s visit, the delegation toured the comprehensive service center of the start-up area in Xiong’an New Area, and learned about its planning and construction, as well as its "one-stop" integrated services for relieving Beijing of functions that are not essential to its role as the nation's capital.

Delegates also visited the University Town of Fifth Cluster North Collaborative Innovation Exhibition Hall and the Beijing Forestry University Xiong'an Campus Smart Exhibition Hall and project construction site.

Chan said the first batch of Beijing universities' campuses in Xiong'an has entered a large-scale construction stage, and achieved campus-city integration, deep integration of industry and education, as well as smart and green development.

ALSO READ: Legislation to speed up Northern Metropolis development

Choi said she believes that these experiences can provide insights for the high-quality planning and construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town. 

“We will actively draw on the insights gained from this tour to more precisely define the development vision, entry strategies, and supporting measures for the university town, thereby contributing to the nation’s efforts to be a leading country in education,” said Choi.

On Monday, Chan led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to embark on a four-day visit to Zhejiang province, Beijing, and Xiong'an.

On Monday and Tuesday in Zhejing, they visited Ningbo Higher Education Park, and Hangzhou’s Xiasha Higher Education Park and Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining), and conducted exchange meetings with local authorities.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com