In response to media enquiries about rumors circulating on the Internet that a local university has been granted approval to establish the third medical school, the Health Bureau clarified today that the information is completely groundless.

It pointed out that the Task Group on New Medical School received proposals for the establishment of the third medical school in March from the Baptist University, the Polytechnic University and the University of Science & Technology.

The task group held two meetings with the three universities to discuss their proposals in depth, and carried out an overall assessment of the proposals at their meeting on July 31.

They also initiated the next phase of follow-up work to conduct a thorough study of the funding arrangements and financial sustainability of the proposals.

They expect to provide a final recommendation on the establishment of the new medical school to the Government later this year, the bureau added.