Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kwok-fan and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):

Question:

     The Government has reserved sites in the Northern Metropolis for the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT) and plan to publish the Northern Metropolis University Town Development Conceptual Framework in the first half of 2026. According to the current plan, NMUT will be spread over three sites, namely, about 46 hectares in Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area, about 40 hectares in New Territories North New Town and about five hectares in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK/HT NDA). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the development timeline, infrastructure details, and estimated commencement date for the three aforesaid sites; given the positive response from local and overseas institutions towards NMUT, how will the Government expedite the development, including advancing the publication of the Northern Metropolis University Town Development Conceptual Framework within this year to meet demand;

(2) given that there are views pointing out that the development of HSK/HT NDA is ahead of the other two sites, and that the MTR Hung Shui Kiu Station is expected to be completed in 2030, will the Government give priority to the development of the site for education purpose in that area; if so, of the specific plans; if not, the reasons for that; and
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(3) as the area of the site for education purpose in HSK/HT NDA is only five hectares, will the Government, in the light of the latest developments, dynamically plan and consolidate the site and expand it to a size comparable to the other two sites (i.e. over 40 hectares); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Education is the key to nurturing talent. Hong Kong's post-secondary education is highly internationalised and diversified. As the only city with five universities in the world's top 100, Hong Kong is an international hub for exchange and collaboration among high-calibre talent. For two consecutive years, the Chief Executive has put forward in the Policy Address the goal of developing Hong Kong into an international education hub and a cradle for future talent, and making good use of the Northern Metropolis (NM), with new land, new population, excellent connectivity, development opportunities of different industries and close connections with the Mainland, to provide space for the post-secondary education sector to develop and enhance its quality and capacity. 

     At present, the Government has reserved about 90 hectares (ha) of land in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK/HT NDA), the Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area (NTM NDA) and the New Territories North New Town (NTN New Town) in the NM for developing the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). The Government will encourage local post‑secondary institutions to introduce more branded programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects on a self-financing basis with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions in a flexible and innovative manner. The Government will also progressively take forward the NMUT development in accordance with four objectives and strategies, including:

     (1) industry-led; 
     (2) supporting Hong Kong's development into an international post-secondary education hub; 
     (3) aligned with the national development strategies; and 
     (4) industry-driven, step by step.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) plans to release the NMUT Development Conceptual Framework in the first half of 2026. 

     In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), our consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Lau Kwok-fan is as follows: 


(1) About five ha of land within the HSK/HT NDA has been planned for the NMUT, which can be made available for the development of a new campus for self financing post-secondary institution(s), with a view to supporting the parallel development of the self-financing and publicly-funded post-secondary education sectors. The statutory town plan for the HSK/HT NDA has been formulated, and the first stage of site formation works commenced in 2020. The Stage 2 works, including those for the NMUT land, have commenced progressively from the first half of 2024. It is expected that the NMUT land will be formed within 2026 at the earliest for the construction of a campus.

     As for NTM NDA and NTN New Town, the NMUT land currently under planning is about 46 ha and 40 ha in size respectively. In end-2024, the DEVB announced the development proposals for these two NDAs. Upon completion of the statutory planning procedures, the DEVB will accord priority to the delivery of the NMUT land within these two NDAs. It is anticipated that government-led site formation works in NTM NDA can commence in 2027 at the earliest, with the first batch of land for the NMUT formed in 2029 at the earliest. The NMUT land in NTN New Town is proposed to be included in the Priority Development Area thereof, and government-led site formation works therein can commence in 2028/29 at the earliest, with the first batch of land for the NMUT formed in 2030/31 at the earliest.

(2) and (3) Land is a valuable social resource. With respect to the overall framework and planning for the development of post-secondary education in the NM, we have made reference to the preliminary development intentions on the NMUT submitted by relevant institutions. To take forward the development in a pragmatic and steady manner, having holistically considered various factors and development priorities, the Government has increased the site area of the NMUT from about 60 ha initially to about 90 ha at present to meet the needs of the post-secondary sector. Moreover, the EDB will continue to adhere to the principle of "industry-led, step by step" and take forward the planning of the NMUT in phases in accordance with the development strategies and paces of different zones in the NM.

     As indicated in the Approved Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen Outline Zoning Plan and the NM Action Agenda, which were formulated by relevant departments after conducting extensive consultation and consolidating various policy considerations, the Government has reserved about five ha of land in the HSK/HT NDA for the development of a new self-financing post-secondary institution campus, with a view to supporting the parallel development of the self-financing and publicly-funded post-secondary education sectors. Since the relevant site formation works are expected to complete in 2026, it is anticipated that the relevant site can be ready for launch earlier than the ones in the NTM NDA and the NTN New Town. We are discussing planning matters with relevant bureaux/departments, including the specific location, area, use and density of the reserved land, and will invite eligible self-financing post-secondary institutions to submit expressions of interest for the site in due course, depending on the planning progress.

     The approved Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen Outline Zoning Plan was promulgated in October 2018, which sets out the uses, such as domestic, industrial and government/community facilities uses, and development parameters of different land parcels in the area. The DEVB will conduct a timely review of planning matters, such as land uses and development parameters, in the light of the latest social and economic developments. It will propose amendments to the plan where necessary and will take into account the views of various sectors in the process. If the development plan of an institution requires a site area of more than five ha and meets the relevant criteria for consideration, such as feasibility, cost-effectiveness and making good use of existing campus facilities and public resources, the EDB will assess with relevant bureaux/departments whether there is room for revising the land use planning for the HSK/HT NDA so as to accommodate the development plan of the institution.

     Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:15

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