HONG KONG—The Hong Kong government formally announced Friday that the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been selected to establish the city’s third medical school, a move intended to bolster the region’s healthcare research and educational capacity.
Following a comprehensive review by a dedicated preparatory working group, the Chief Executive and the Executive Council approved HKUST’s proposal, prioritizing its innovative strategic positioning and potential for synergistic growth alongside existing institutions. Government officials, including representatives from the Health Bureau and the Education Bureau, confirmed the decision during a press briefing at government headquarters, positioning the new facility as a crucial component in realizing Hong Kong’s ambition to become an international hub for medical innovation.
Selection Rationale Focuses on Global Vision
The decision caps a competitive bid process; three universities—HKUST, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)—submitted detailed proposals. The preparatory working group concluded its assessment in July, using ten criteria, including curriculum design, staffing plans, financial viability, and clinical experience integration.
In backing HKUST, authorities acknowledged the university’s strong global outlook, which they believe will create a “healthy complementary relationship” with the city’s two well-established medical schools at the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
“We believe HKUST’s vision will introduce novel pathways and foster collaborative innovation through a stacking effect, ultimately elevating the long-term standard of medical research and education in the territory,” a government spokesperson stated.
Funding Strategy Integrates Private and Public Resources
The new medical school will feature a mixed-funding model. HKUST has committed substantial internal resources, including securing donations and utilizing working capital to finance construction and initial development. This independent funding pool includes approximately HK$2 billion earmarked by the university to construct a new dedicated integrated complex at its Clear Water Bay campus.
However, the government will provide significant support for the medical school’s operational costs and academic places. This assistance includes reserving public resources for development and providing University Grants Committee (UGC) subsidies to fund the new student quota, ensuring long-term sustainability.
The new medical school aims to welcome its inaugural cohort of 50 medical students in 2028, with those students projected to graduate in 2032.
Future Infrastructure and Broader Impact
While the new academic complex will be situated in Clear Water Bay, the long-term vision includes developing a new teaching hospital in the Northern Metropolis. According to development plans previously submitted to the Legislative Council, the proposed third teaching hospital is slated for construction near the future Ngau Tam Mei station, emphasizing accessibility within the region.
Government officials also extended gratitude to the other bidding institutions, HKBU and PolyU, describing their proposals as “very visionary.” Authorities pledged to collaborate with both universities to help them advance their respective healthcare-related strategies and capitalize on their institutional strengths, even without securing the third medical school mandate.
The establishment of a third medical school is viewed as a critical step in addressing Hong Kong’s future manpower needs in specialized healthcare fields while positioning the city as a regional leader in medical technology and clinical research. The next steps involve finalizing the curriculum details and initiating the recruitment of core academic faculty for the planned 2028 launch.
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