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

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

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) 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 continue its visit to Zhejiang. The delegation conducted on-site visits to study the development models of local university towns, industry-academic-research integration mechanisms, and strategies for attracting top international institutions.

In the morning, the delegation first visited the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou, the largest higher education park in Zhejiang. The park has 14 higher education institutions with more than 200 000 full-time students. It is a modern university town that emphasises sharing of resources and deep integration of industry, academic and research sectors. The delegation toured various institutions in the park, including the Hangzhou Dianzi University, the China Jiliang University, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University. The delegation particularly focused on the industrial innovation centre of the higher education park in Qiantang District and the science and technology innovation building of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University to learn more about the integrated development model of education chains, industrial chains, talent chains, and innovation chains of the higher education park.

Thereafter, the delegation held an exchange meeting with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Qiantang District People's Government of Hangzhou Municipality and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. They also listened to a briefing on the planning and construction concept and the latest developments of the Xiasha Higher Education Park, as well as the positioning, layout and interactive co-operation among institutions within the park by Deputy Director of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province Mr Shu Peidong and others.

Mr Chan said that the valuable experience of the Xiasha Higher Education Park in overall planning and construction, funding and financing, development models, management, and policy support could be drawn on by Hong Kong. He hoped that through this visit, the delegation would learn more about how the strategy and operation model of the park could effectively create synergy and promote the development of institutions, and learn from the successful experiences of higher education parks to better promote the deep integration of industry, academia and research in the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT).

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining), which was jointly developed by Zhejiang University and Haining City. The International Campus adopts an international collaborative education model, partnering with various world-renowned institutions to establish international co-operative research centres and laboratories. It has successfully attracted top research talent and has built an integrated ecosystem of industry academia and research. The delegation learned about the campus's international collaborative education model and met with the Executive Vice President of Zhejiang University, Professor Wang Lizhong, the Dean of Zhejiang University International Campus, Dr Gu Zhen, and other representatives to discuss strengthening exchanges in higher education fields and talent cultivation co-operation between the two places.

Mr Chan said that Hong Kong is planning and developing the NMUT, aiming to build the city into an international education hub. By attracting leading Mainland and top international universities and research centres, as well as world-class scholars and outstanding students to develop in Hong Kong, the NMUT will promote deeper integration between Hong Kong's strengths in academic fields and industries, achieving the goal of driving industrial development through education. He said that the valuableexperience of Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining) would provide insights for the development of the NMUT, making a better collaboration result between education fields and industries in the NMUT, thereby helping Hong Kong contribute more on building China into a leading country in education.

Mr Chan, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and members of the delegation will depart for Beijing this evening and continue the visit tomorrow (April 1).

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) 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 continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (third right), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (fourth right), and the delegation visiting the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining) and exchanging views with representatives of the institution. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) 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 continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (left) and the delegation visiting the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining) and exchanging views with representatives of the institution. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) 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 continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (second right), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (third left), and the delegation visiting the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) 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 continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (second right), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (third right), and the delegation visiting the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on the Northern Metropolis Development to continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (third right), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (fourth right), and the delegation visiting the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou and exchanging views with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Qiantang District People's Government of Hangzhou Municipality and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on the Northern Metropolis Development to continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (third left), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (fourth left), and the delegation visiting the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on the Northern Metropolis Development to continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (fifth right), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (fourth right), and the delegation visiting the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on the Northern Metropolis Development to continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (third right), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (second right), and the delegation visiting the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on the Northern Metropolis Development to continue its visit to Zhejiang. Photo shows Mr Chan (third right), the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (fourth right), and the delegation visiting the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou and being briefed by a representative on the development of the park. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two co-owners fined over $60,000 for not complying with removal order

Two co-owners were convicted and fined $66,200 in total, of which $50,200 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts yesterday (March 31) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 29 square metres on the roof of a village house on a lot at D.D. 242, Sai Kung. Since the Lands Department would not issue a certificate of exemption for the unauthorised building works (UBWs) and the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD.

A spokesman for the BD said today (April 1), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety."

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.