Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) New Campus - A Hub for Community Health and Wellness today (June 9):

Dr Eddy Fong (the Pro-Chancellor of HKMU), Dr Conrad Wong (the Council Chairman of HKMU), Professor Paul Lam (the President of HKMU), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

      Good afternoon. I'm delighted to be here for the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University's Hub for Community Health and Wellness. 

      I have had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable development of HKMU since its establishment in 1989. From a pioneer in distance learning for adults, it has become a dynamic, comprehensive, and internationally recognised university. 

      With more than 170 000 graduates and over 17 000 full-time students today, HKMU has become the largest self-financing university in Hong Kong. 

      And despite this impressive growth, HKMU remains steadfastly committed to its founding mission: "Education for All". Through quality and flexible education, HKMU continues to offer life-long learning opportunities to individuals from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender or personal circumstances. 

      Being Hong Kong's first university of applied sciences, or UAS in short, HKMU has found a clear and compelling niche - to provide vocational and professional education and training, a critical driver of manpower development and a promising pathway for our youth. 

      This approach also echoes the 15th Five-Year Plan, in promoting the integrated development of education, technology and talent. HKMU's practical, market-driven curriculum brings that vision to life. 

      The new Hub for Community Health and Wellness takes this further. It will support nursing and health sciences education and research across multiple disciplines. It will be home to at least six undergraduate programmes and two higher diploma programmes, all aligned with HKMU's strategic positioning as a UAS. 

      HKMU has long enjoyed strong ties to industry. The new campus will deepen those ties, nurturing a new generation of industry-ready professionals. The interdisciplinary research centre will focus on solving real-world problems and, in doing so, attract the high-calibre talent required for our long-term industrial growth. 

      I am confident that HKMU will play a leading role in raising the status of vocational and professional education and training at the degree level, enhancing its articulation pathways and working with other member institutions of the Alliance of UAS. 

      The Government, let me emphasise, is committed to the sustainable development of the self-financing, post-secondary education sector. 

      And we back our words with action. Through the Start-up Loan Scheme, we are supporting HKMU's new campus with a loan of some HK$1.3 billion. And it does much more than ease the university's shortage of campus space. 

      It will house a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities, including an integrated health centre and the interdisciplinary research centre, creating an outstanding environment to support teaching, research and the promotion of health and wellness in the community. 

      Most importantly, this campus will enable more students to access high-quality, applied education, giving them the skills and understanding they need to serve society with competence, creativity and compassion. 

      I'm also pleased to note that some of the facilities in the new complex will be open to the Hong Kong public, including the integrated health centre.

      HKMU has long been committed to promoting public health through targeted educational programmes and wellness activities. This new campus will clearly expand that commitment, to the benefit of all Hong Kong. 

      Ladies and gentlemen, I wish HKMU and its new campus - a Hub for Community Health and Wellness - far-reaching success. May it become a shining example in vocational and professional education, empowering generations of outstanding graduates to contribute to the prosperity and well-being of Hong Kong and our nation. 

      Thank you.

Ends/Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:38

NNNN