Policy Address 2026: Hung Shui Kiu University Town Details Announced — Three Sites Totalling 26.2 Hectares, Applications Close 31 December

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Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in the Five-Year Plan and Policy Address yesterday (16th) that the Northern Metropolis University Town will comprise three university towns. The government today (17th) announced details of the Hung Shui Kiu University Town, which will be divided into three zones. Institutions may submit land grant applications for purposes including campus expansion, campus relocation, or the provision of teaching facilities. The application deadline is 31 December this year. The government expects to announce the institutions selected to move in early next year.

📍 Hung Shui Kiu University Town Positioning: Centre for Applied Post-Secondary Education in Smart Manufacturing and International Talent Cultivation
The Hung Shui Kiu University Town campus area is divided into three zones. Zone 1 covers about 16.5 hectares and is located west of the planned Hung Shui Kiu Station on the Tuen Ma Line, comprising 11 sites. Zone 2 covers about 5.3 hectares and is located north of Hung Shui Kiu Station, adjacent to enterprise and technology park sites as well as housing sites, comprising 3 sites. Zone 3 covers about 4.4 hectares and is adjacent to the modern logistics park, comprising a single site. The maximum plot ratio for all three zones is 5.

🏗️ Institutions May Apply for Four Categories of Development Use
Institutions may submit land grant applications for the above three zones for the following development purposes: constructing permanent campuses to expand post-secondary institution scale; relocating existing campuses; providing or upgrading teaching and other supporting facilities (such as libraries, laboratories, student guidance/career guidance centres, and research-related facilities); and/or constructing hostels for students enrolled in full-time post-secondary programmes. The total floor area used for student hostels and staff quarters must not exceed 15% of the proposed total floor area.

🎯 Institutional Planning Requirements: Focus on Frontier Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration with Greater Bay Area Industries
Institutional planning requirements include: playing a leading role in promoting Hong Kong's development as an international education hub; focusing on frontier interdisciplinary research and aligning with the academic and technological needs of key industries in the Greater Bay Area; collaborating with industries in the region in curriculum development, teaching and learning, internships, and applied research; actively engaging and collaborating with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions as well as leading enterprises; and encouraging institutions to develop facilities that can be shared with other post-secondary institutions.

💰 HK$10 Billion Loan Facility Reserved; Chan Kwok-ki: Need for Loan Not the Only Assessment Criterion
Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki announced at a press conference today that the government will later today release three sites totalling 26.2 hectares in the Hung Shui Kiu University Town campus area for eligible institutions to apply to build campuses, with HK$10 billion in loans reserved. The application deadline is 31 December this year. A "Dedicated Vetting Committee" chaired by him will be responsible for vetting applications, and the institutions approved to move in are expected to be announced in early next year. Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin said the loan scheme is voluntary, institutions must comply with basic loan terms, and those that do not need loans or propose more competitive loan packages will be given priority consideration. Chan added that whether a loan is needed is not the only assessment criterion, stressing that institutions' overall proposals will be considered.

🗺️ San Tin Campus Area About 100 Hectares; Ta Kwu Ling Over 180 Hectares
Chan also said that the San Tin University Town campus area is initially planned at about 100 hectares, while the Ta Kwu Ling University Town campus area will exceed 180 hectares. The three university town campus areas will total 300 hectares, subject to further changes as needed. The Education Bureau will invite institutions to submit applications, with a briefing session to be held next week. Institutions may apply for one or multiple zones to build permanent campuses, relocate existing campuses, or construct student hostels.