Conserved site: Financial Secretary John Tsang tours the former North Kowloon Magistracy.

Financial Secretary John Tsang has visited the former North Kowloon Magistracy site in Sham Shui Po where the US Savannah College of Art & Design's Hong Kong campus will be established.

After the renowned art, design and digital media institution's representative Bob Dickensheets and Commissioner for Heritage Jack Chan's project briefing, Mr Tsang toured the brand-new learning environment in the revitalised building, including its classrooms, library, design studios, and the conserved jail cells and courtroom.

Saying the US institution will help the city nurture experts in different creative fields with an international dimension, Mr Tsang said the school will give fresh impetus to the local creative sector and provide excellent learning opportunities for young people wishing to join the industry.

"It will promote Hong Kong as a regional art and design educational hub and improve its global competitiveness in digital media and creative industries. The project will bring in 1,500 local and overseas students to Sham Shui Po district and help revitalise the old community."

The magistracy is the first project to be completed under the Revitalising Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme's first batch. The school - the US institution's first branch in Asia - plans to start operation in September.