Hong Kong’s university town: where’s the money and what will success look like?
Hong Kong is betting big on the Northern Metropolis with a university town as a core engine. In this third of a five-part series on the city’s first five-year blueprint, we look at the talk of the town. Read part two here. Hong Kong is a city that has among the highest concentration of top universities with at least eight making it to global and regional rankings and as excitement builds over a…
In Hong Kong's first five-year plan, there is a focus on establishing a university town in the Northern Metropolis to drive education, innovation, and technology. The region spans 1,000 hectares, with 300 hectares dedicated to campus space. University leaders are seeking clarity on development parameters, timeline, and financing model for the project.
Professor Christopher Chao Yu-hang, senior vice-president for research and innovation at Polytechnic University, emphasized the need for more information and investment from various stakeholders in building the Northern Metropolis. The city's government has already identified a location for the town, with land to be allocated in phases, beginning with a tender in the coming month.
The proposal aims to create an environment where universities, enterprises, and mainland entities can collaborate and exchange knowledge. The Northern Metropolis will serve as a hub for application scenarios, allowing for the integration of academic research with practical implementation. Some international and local companies are already present in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, demonstrating early interest in the area.
However, concerns have been raised about the financial sustainability of the university town. The Hong Kong government has welcomed private sector participation, but it remains to be seen if attractive financial incentives will be provided to ensure the project's success.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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