CS Leads Delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to Visit Zhejiang

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to visit Zhejiang

The delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town (WG) under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, arrived in Ningbo today (March 30) to begin a four-day visit to Zhejiang, Beijing, and the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. The delegation will conduct on-site visits to study the development models and practical experience of local university towns, with a view to providing solid policy reference for the planning and construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT).

The delegation first visited the Ningbo Higher Education Park. Planned and constructed in 1999, the Ningbo Higher Education Park is the first higher education park in the country. A number of higher education institutions are located in the park, and shared resources such as libraries and sports facilities are available. The delegation toured various institutions in the park, including Zhejiang Wanli University, NingboTech University, and the School of Software Technology, Zhejiang University. The delegation particularly focused on the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, which was jointly established by Zhejiang Wanli University and the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, to gain an in-depth understanding of the positioning, characteristics, and development strategies of different institutions in the park. They also studied the overall planning model and construction style of the park.

Afterwards, the delegation held an exchange meeting with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Ningbo Municipal Government, the Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau, and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. They also listened to a briefing on the development of the Ningbo Higher Education Park by member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of the Ningbo Municipal People's Government, Mr Xu Yan, Deputy Director of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province Mr Shu Peidong, and other representatives.

Mr Chan said that the Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address the establishment of a research task force under the WG to study the development model for the NMUT. He hoped that through this visit, the delegation could draw on the successful experience of the Ningbo Higher Education Park over the past two decades, and understand how different institutions could better promote the integrated development of industry, academia and research through government policy support and resource concentration in the park. He also hoped that the visit could help promote exchanges and co-operation in the education field between the two places.

In the evening, Mr Chan and the delegation arrived in Hangzhou, where they met with member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Mr Xu Wenguang, and other Zhejiang provincial officials. They exchanged views on further deepening Zhejiang-Hong Kong co-operation, particularly on strengthening exchanges, co-operation, and development with Mainland institutions in the education field.

Mr Chan said that in recent years, Zhejiang Province has fully implemented its strategy of modernisation of education and the strategy to build a strong province in higher education, achieving rapid development with remarkable and widely recognised results. Zhejiang and Hong Kong have signed multiple co-operation agreements, which set out more practical and diversified collaborative projects in the education field, with the aim of jointly nurturing and supplying new-era talent for the country's high-quality development. Mr Chan expressed hope of bringing the successful experience of Zhejiang Province back to Hong Kong to support the city in developing into an international hub for post-secondary education, and contributing Hong Kong's strengths to building China into a leading country in education, while continuing to promote deeper exchanges and co-operation between Zhejiang and Hong Kong in the education field.

Mr Chan, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and other members of the delegation will continue their visit tomorrow (March 31) and visit the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang today (March 30). Photo shows Mr Chan (left) meeting with member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Mr Xu Wenguang (right) in Hangzhou. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang today (March 30). Photo shows Mr Chan (fifth left), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (fourth left), and the delegation meeting with member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Mr Xu Wenguang (fourth right), as well as other Zhejiang provincial officials in Hangzhou. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang today (March 30). Photo shows Mr Chan, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and the delegation exchanging views with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Ningbo Municipal Government, the Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau, and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang today (March 30). Photo shows (from fifth left) Deputy Director of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province Mr Shu Peidong; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; Mr Chan; member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, Mr Xu Yan, and other attending officials at the Ningbo Higher Education Park. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang today (March 30). Photo shows Mr Chan (left) visiting the Ningbo Higher Education Park and exchanging views with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Ningbo Municipal Government, the Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau, and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang today (March 30). Photo shows Mr Chan (front row, centre) and the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (front row, second right), visiting the Ningbo Higher Education Park and exchanging views with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Ningbo Municipal Government, the Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau, and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, visited Shaanxi Province for two consecutive days from yesterday (April 4), where he called on local leaders and exchanged views with officials on strengthening the development of various aspects between the two places, including cultural exchanges, educational co-operation, and innovation and technology.

Mr Chan called on the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, yesterday to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong-Shaanxi exchanges and co-operation. The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, also attended the meeting. Mr Chan said that since the signing of the Strengthening Hong Kong/Shaanxi Co-operation Agreement and a series of Memoranda of Understanding in areassuch as legal services, innovation and technology, education, and tourism in 2024, exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Shaanxi have yielded fruitful results under the support of the Central Government and through the joint efforts of both places. He added that co-operation in various aspects between the two places, in particular in the areas of cultural exchanges, educational co-operation, and innovation and technology, can be strengthened to achieve complementary advantages in the future.

During the meeting, Mr Chan expressed his gratitude for the invitation by the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government to the memorial ceremony for legendary emperor Huang Di during the Ching Ming Festival. He said that the event was significant, connecting descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors from around the world to worship together the earliest mythical ruler Huang Di, and to pass on the good moral quality of treasuring historical legacies for the Chinese nation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's participation can help Hong Kong citizens to gain a deeper understanding of the origin of the Chinese civilisation, building a stronger sense of national identity and affection. He also expressed hope for strengthening co-operation in patriotic education with Shaanxi in the future, enabling Hong Kong citizens, especially the younger generation, to gain a deeper understanding of and identification with the nation and Chinese culture.

Mr Chan concluded his visit to Shaanxi Province after attending the memorial ceremony for legendary emperor Huang Di during the Ching Ming Festival this morning, and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases