The University Grants Committee has no timetable for the universities merger. It has an open mind on the matter and will approach the subject with no pre-conceived ideas.

Speaking after the Employers' Forum today, committee chairman Dr Alice Lam said although there is no merger timetable, the body does have a programme of meetings, the next slated for January.

Dr Lam said the merger proposal should be thoroughly considered as the higher education system's future is a very important question.

"As Professor John Niland, Convenor of the Institutional Integration Working Party established under the committee, made clear last week, the aim of the study was to prepare a paper setting out some options, and for these to be widely debated," Dr Lam said.

The working party will invite the Chinese University and the University of Science & Technology to offer their views on the advantages and drawbacks of institutional integration, both from the perspectives of the institutions and the overall interest of Hong Kong.

Professor Niland will meet the Reference Groups of the two universities in November.

The working party will then produce the Options Document for consideration by the committee in January and for subsequent university and public debate.