(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Chief Executive-in-Council has endorsed the University of Science & Technology (UST) to establish Hong Kong's third medical school, with the inaugural cohort of 50 medical students expected to be admitted in 2028. The school will run a four-year graduate-level medical programme.

Chief Executive John Lee said Hong Kong is developing into an international hub for medical training, research and innovation and that the establishment of a third school to train more healthcare professionals is crucial to enhancing local healthcare services.

He said the third school will work closely with the two existing medical schools to complement their strengths, enhance the standards and capabilities of Hong Kong's scientific research and medical education, and contribute to the national strategy of establishing China as a leading country in education.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau made the announcement at a media session today.

He said the decision took into consideration recommondations from the "Task Group on New Medical School", which made a holistic assessment based on 10 major criteria.

“The UST has got a lot of important advantages in terms of, for example, their innovative strategic positioning, building up clinician scientists, (and) their university ranking is certainly one of the matters that we considered as we see the UST has a more global outlook. And the financial model that they propose is more in line with the policy of having matching in our subsidy in this important venture.”

The university has pledged to commit its own resources, including donations and funds, to partially fund the new school's establishment. This includes contributing over $2 billion to build a new complex at its Clear Water Bay campus for the new school's premises.

Prof Lo said: “About the reason for having an interim campus in Clear Water Bay, the Ngau Tam Mei site would not be ready by the year 2028, which is the proposed year for the initiation of this medical curriculum for the UST, so we have to have an interim campus for teaching. The Ngau Tam Mei campus will likely be ready at around 2034 to 2035, so we have to rely on the interim campus for teaching for the time being.

“And also because the teaching hospital in Ngau Tam Mei will not be ready for quite a while, we will need to rely on some other teaching hospitals, which is actually included in the proposal by the UST. And this is also the reason that we have to seek support from the Hospital Authority.”

The school's inaugural graduates are expected to begin housemanship in 2032, he added.

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin supplemented that the establishment of the new medical school will inject new impetus into the higher education, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international post-secondary education hub and an international hub for high-calibre talent.

She said the new medical school will also accelerate Hong Kong's alignment with the national blueprint of the 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education for building world-class universities and academic subjects.

“I expect the university to continue to seize the opportunities of the Northern Metropolis University Town, to develop synergy with neighbouring industries, and to provide talent support for the country and Hong Kong.”