Dear Colleagues,
At a special meeting on 19 May, the Council considered two significant campus development initiatives: HKMU's possible participation in the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT) and progress on the Hub for Community Health and Wellness (HCHW).
Under the latest plan, the Government has reserved three sites, totalling about 100 hectares, for the NMUT. These include a nine-hectare site in Hung Shui Kiu / Ha Tsuen, designated for self-financing post-secondary institutions, with special consideration for universities of applied sciences.
In July 2023, HKMU responded to the Education Bureau's invitation for expressions of interest by proposing the relocation of the School of Science and Technology to the NMUT. This would strengthen teaching, research and industry collaboration in science and engineering, while positioning the School closer to innovation hubs and technology clusters in Shenzhen and neighbouring industrial and commercial centres.
At the same time, the University is pressing ahead with the HCHW as a key element of our long-term campus development strategy. Site formation works, which began in February 2026, are expected to be completed within 24 months, followed by construction of the superstructure over a further two to three years.
In discussing the NMUT, Council members considered not only the project's desirability and feasibility, but also the scale and scope that would best serve HKMU's strategic development.
The University will therefore conduct a detailed review of its future space requirements, projected student numbers and mix, and financial capacity to build, operate and sustain additional campuses and facilities.
In my view, HKMU should pursue the NMUT only under the following conditions:
Always guided by the University's long-term interests, we will carefully weigh all relevant considerations before deciding how best to advance these important development initiatives.
Paul LAM Kwan-sing
President
