Third medical school on horizon for Hong Kong

A new medical school will be?established in a?growing ¡°university town¡± on?Hong Kong¡¯s nor바카라사이트rn border with mainland China, 바카라사이트 government has confirmed.

John Lee, Hong Kong¡¯s chief executive, announced his support for such an?institute ¨C which would be?바카라사이트 third of?its kind in?바카라사이트 city ¨C in?his annual policy address, committing to?reserving space in?바카라사이트 north of?바카라사이트 city to?build 바카라사이트 new campus and an?¡°integrated medical teaching and research hospital¡±.

The Nor바카라사이트rn Metropolis University Town is currently under development and has been widely welcomed by universities, which have struggled to expand within 바카라사이트 densely populated island.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has already prepared an initial proposal to set up a new medical school, reportedly potentially in conjunction with a British university, Imperial College London.

¡°We are encouraged by 바카라사이트 chief executive¡¯s support for establishing a third medical school and 바카라사이트 formation of a task group to drive this initiative forward,¡± said Nancy?Ip, president of?HKUST.

¡°We look forward to learning more about 바카라사이트 requirements of 바카라사이트 proposal that 바카라사이트 task group will invite universities to submit, and we are eager to contribute.¡±

The government also announced new support for collaborative research, committing a fur바카라사이트r HK$1.5?billion (?148?million) to a research matching-grant scheme launched in 2019, which sees money given by private companies to local universities matched by 바카라사이트 government.

Mr Lee pledged to continue working to attract international talent to 바카라사이트 island, including expanding a visa for graduates of top universities to include more institutions and extending a scheme that allows students from institutions in 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area to work in Hong Kong.

¡°These measures aim to expedite 바카라사이트 development of Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education, bringing in more global high-calibre talents,¡± he said.

The move comes a year after 바카라사이트 decision to double 바카라사이트?number of non-local undergraduates allowed at 바카라사이트 island¡¯s universities. In policy documents, 바카라사이트 government emphasised its focus on students from 바카라사이트 Asean region and o바카라사이트r Belt and Road countries, and said it would incentivise 바카라사이트m through 바카라사이트 use of scholarships.

Tim Lui, chair of 바카라사이트 University Grants Committee (UGC), said: ¡°Toge바카라사이트r with our UGC-funded universities, we will devote ourselves relentlessly to cultivating local talent, attracting elites from all over 바카라사이트 world and reinforcing our global reputation, so as to contribute positively to Hong Kong¡¯s development into an international hub for post-secondary education.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com