The area set aside for the Northern Metropolis University Towns (NMUT) spans more than 1,000 hectares in total, covering San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu and Ta Kwu Ling.
Delivering the city’s first five-year plan at the Legislative Council, Lee said the government would provide financial backing for universities to set up campuses at the towns.
“In terms of financial arrangements, the government will provide full support through a multi-pronged approach such as land premium exemption and loans while post-secondary institutions will mobilise their reserves and/or employ flexible funding modes, such as the issuance of bonds, to bring in market and social capital to jointly advance the NMUT development,” he said.
Lee said each university town would have a distinct focus that encompasses the five elements of education: technology, industry, talent and urban development.
The San Tin University Town will focus on the development of medicine, life and health technology, AI, robotics, microelectronics, and emerging industries, serving as the core of future innovation and technology development in Hong Kong.
The Hung Shui Kiu University Town is positioned as a “cultivation centre for smart manufacturing, applied post-secondary education, and internationalised talent”.
The Ta Kwu Ling University Town, meanwhile, will incorporate arts and blue-green development elements, while reserving space for future development needs.
Building on the existing foundation, Lee said, the administration would prioritise the development of the San Tin and Hung Shui Kiu university towns.
Site allocation for the Hung Shui Kiu University Town campus area is set to commence this year and institutions are expected to move in from 2027 to 2028.
Lee added the government would also accelerate the construction of ancillary facilities such as student hostels and continuously upgrade the accommodation standards.
The blueprint also sets a target of increasing full-time non-local post-secondary enrollment by 25 percent over the next five years, raising the student count from 79,800 in the 2024/25 academic year to 100,000 by 2029/30.