Self-funded campuses favoured in Hong Kong’s new university towns
Tertiary institutions seeking to establish campuses in one of three university towns planned for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will be given “favourable consideration” if they do not require a government loan to build their facilities, Hong Kong’s education minister has said. The government has expanded all three university towns – formally named in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s annual…
Hong Kong's education minister has announced that tertiary institutions planning to set up campuses in three planned university towns within the Northern Metropolis megaproject will receive "favourable consideration" if they do not need to take out a government loan for construction. The government has formally named these towns – Hung Shui Kiu, San Tin, and Ta Kwu Ling – and opened applications for interested institutions to submit proposals for the first town in Hung Shui Kiu by the end of 2024.
The results for all three towns are expected to be announced in early 2027. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin stated that institutions could choose to obtain a government loan, but those who did not would be given priority. Chan Kwok-ki, Hong Kong's No 2 official, clarified that an institution's decision to take out a loan was just one factor in vetting proposals, not the sole condition.
Institutions applying for a loan would need to propose repayment terms, including loan period and interest rate. If the repayment period is 20 years, universities can benefit from an interest-free period for the first six years, followed by interest rates of around 2% from the seventh to the tenth year and around 5% from the eleventh to the twentieth year.
Chan emphasized that the Northern Metropolis University Town serves as a key platform for Hong Kong's participation in the Greater Bay Area and national development. The three university towns cover 26 hectares, 100 hectares, and 180 hectares respectively, with the possibility of size adjustments before the application period opens.
Institutions in Hung Shui Kiu will be required to focus on advanced scientific research, collaborate with local industries, and partner with renowned mainland Chinese and overseas institutions to cultivate talent and develop shared facilities. The government has allocated a HK$10 billion loan scheme for Hung Shui Kiu University Town, which will be developed as a centre for applied post-secondary education in smart manufacturing and global talent cultivation.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
