Policy Address 2026: Northern Metropolis University Town Expands to 1,000 Hectares; San Tin to Be Flagshiped by "Hetao Institute 1"; Jockey Club Allocates HK$3 Billion for Life and Health Technology Teaching and Research Building

🔥 Afraid of missing the latest open days, admissions information and application dates for primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong? Follow Goal-EDU.com now!

The HKSAR Government today released Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan, with greater emphasis on the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town. All three university towns are laid out around the "One Town, Five Elements" of education, technology, industry, talent and urban development, each with its own functional positioning. The total area will increase to 1,000 hectares, including a total campus area of 300 hectares. The San Tin University Town is expected to be flagshiped by "Hetao Institute 1" at the Hetao Hong Kong Park, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The Jockey Club will also allocate HK$3 billion to support the construction of another comprehensive teaching and research building.

🏗️ Three University Towns Each with Their Own Positioning; San Tin and Hung Shui Kiu to Be Developed First
Both the Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address mention the positioning of the three parks, and state that each university town will have a campus area, technology area, industry area and living community, with priority given to developing San Tin and Hung Shui Kiu. Government sources said the land for the three university town parks has been expanded compared with before, with details to be announced in the coming days, but the 300-hectare campus area will still be subject to "dynamic adjustment" according to the development of each park.

🔬 San Tin University Town: Positioned for Medicine and Life Health Technology; Hetao Institute 1 as Flagship
San Tin University Town will be positioned for medicine, life and health, technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, microelectronics and emerging industries. It will include the HKUST Medical School and an integrated medical teaching and research hospital. The "Hetao Institute 1" at the Hetao Hong Kong Park, expected to be completed by the end of this year, will serve as the flagship. It is understood that about 80% of the building has already been leased, mainly for universities to use as bases for following up on cross-border data flows, innovation platforms and other purposes, with priority given to enterprises that collaborate with universities. The building funded by the Jockey Club will be built near the planned new MTR station on the Northern Link, with greater emphasis on talent cultivation and more space for exchanges between institutions and organisations.

🏭 Hung Shui Kiu University Town: Smart Manufacturing and International Talent Cultivation; Institutions to Move In by 2027
Hung Shui Kiu University Town will be positioned as a centre for applied post-secondary education in smart manufacturing and international talent cultivation. Details of the allocation are expected to be announced in the coming days and delivered within this year, with the goal of having post-secondary institutions move in by 2027. Ta Kwu Ling University Town will incorporate art and blue-green development elements, and also reserve strategic development space for future needs. Land will be produced from 2030 to support the development of emerging industries and advanced manufacturing.

💰 Government Expects Universities to Be "Self-Financing"; Support Through Loans and Land Premium Waivers
The government earlier proposed providing HK$10 billion in loans to support institutions interested in developing in Hung Shui Kiu, and whether the amount will be "increased" has attracted much attention. Government sources revealed that the government expects universities to be "self-financing" when developing the Northern Metropolis University Town, and will support universities through loans and land premium waivers, with loan details to be announced in the coming days. It also hopes to bring in more market and social capital participation, for example, overseas universities conducting research and development for local industries to bring products to market, while industries prioritise hiring university students, achieving "mutual benefit."

🐴 Jockey Club Allocates HK$3 Billion to Build Life and Health Technology Teaching and Research Building; Floor Area Exceeds 30,000 Square Metres
The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced today that its Charities Trust has approved in principle a donation of HK$3 billion to support the construction of a life and health technology teaching and research building in the Northern Metropolis University Town, in response to the Policy Address's proposal to build a comprehensive teaching and research building in the Northern Metropolis focusing on education and scientific exchange and research talent cultivation. The building is located in the Hetao Hong Kong Park and will provide a total floor area of more than 30,000 square metres to promote life and health science research and accelerate Hong Kong's long-term development. Jockey Club Chairman Liao Changjiang said that 2026 is the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," and 2027 will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. The Jockey Club is very honoured to work hand in hand with the government to plan for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.