Chief Executive in Council approves proposal for establishment of new medical school
************************************************************************************
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, "Hong Kong is proactively developing into an international medical training, research and innovation hub. The establishment of the third medical school to train more healthcare professionals is crucial to enhancing local healthcare services. I thank the expert advisors of the Task Group on New Medical School for their efforts in the past year for completing the evaluation in an efficient, professional and fair manner within a short period of time, laying a solid foundation for the establishment of the third medical school. The third medical school will work closely with the two existing medical schools to complement each other's strengths, enhance the standard and capabilities of Hong Kong's scientific research and medical education, and respond to the national strategy of building the nation into a leading country in education."
A Government spokesman said that the expert advisors and members of the Task Group conducted an in-depth review of the proposals submitted by the three universities from various perspectives including innovative strategic positioning, curriculum structure and financial sustainability. Having regard to the Task Group's evaluation outcome and recommendation, the Chief Executive in Council has approved in principle for the new medical school to be established by the HKUST to launch a new four-year graduate-level entry medical programme. The HKUST shall aim to admit its first cohort of 50 students in the 2028/29 academic year. Before commencement of student admission, the HKUST must obtain an in-principle approval from the Medical Council of Hong Kong for the accreditation of its medical curriculum.
The HKUST should proceed with the planning, preparation and establishment of the third medical school. It shall sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government on key implementation requirements, including curriculum accreditation, financing, staffing, campus development and teaching hospital arrangements, and collaborate closely with the Government and the Task Group on relevant matters during the implementation stage. The HKUST has pledged to commit its own resources (including donations and funds) to partially fund for the establishment of the new medical school, including contributing over $2 billion to build a new complex on its Clear Water Bay campus as the premises for the new medical school.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "Today is an important day for Hong Kong's healthcare system. The establishment of the new medical school will nurture more outstanding doctors to support the local healthcare system in providing quality services, while at the same time raising the standard and capacity of Hong Kong's scientific research and medical education, developing Hong Kong into a leading hub for nurturing scientific research and clinical talent in health and medical innovation. The Task Group and the HKUST have a tight schedule ahead. I look forward to the HKUST finalising the implementation details of the third medical school's establishment plan shortly. We are confident that the establishment of the new medical school will introduce healthy competition, and expect the two existing medical schools to fully support its development, thereby creating synergy."
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, "The proposals submitted by the three universities are detailed and each has its own merits, with institutional characteristics and innovative ideas. They demonstrate the higher education sector's unity in medical education and related professional training to jointly create a better future for Hong Kong. Education is the foundation for building China into a great country and achieving national rejuvenation. Hong Kong is currently the only city in the world with five universities in the world's top 100, and the establishment of the new medical school will inject new impetus into our higher education, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international post-secondary education hub and an international hub for high-calibre talent. The new medical school will also accelerate Hong Kong's alignment with the national blueprint of the 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education for building world-class universities and academic subjects. I expect the university to continue to seize the opportunities of the Northern Metropolis University Town, to develop synergy with neighbouring industries, and to provide talent support for the country and Hong Kong."
Professor Lo added, "The three proposals are each distinctive and demonstrate their unique strengths. The proposal from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) advocates for an integrated Chinese-Western medicine programme; the proposal from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) focuses on inter-professional training and the application of artificial intelligence; while the HKUST concentrates on training physician-scientists who possess both clinical capabilities and scientific research expertise. I am deeply encouraged that the three universities have submitted proposals for the establishment of a new medical school, demonstrating their commitment to the development and innovation of healthcare in Hong Kong."
The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government supports the establishment of the third medical school by a local university to nurture more outstanding medical practitioners to support the local healthcare system in providing quality services, while at the same time promoting the development of Hong Kong into an international medical training, research and innovation hub. The Task Group was established in October 2024, comprising seasoned local, Mainland and overseas academics in medical education and university management, professionals, representatives from the Medical Council of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, as well as representatives from the relevant government bureaux and departments. The Task Group issued a letter of invitation in December 2024 to all University Grants Committee-funded universities to submit proposals for the establishment of the third medical school. By the deadline in March 2025, three proposals were received from HKBU, the PolyU and the HKUST. The Task Group held two rounds of meetings with the universities that submitted proposals in May and June 2025.
Ends/Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:22
Issued at HKT 17:22
NNNN