Hong Kong Delegation Studies Zhejiang's University Town for Insights on Higher Education Development and Integration Strategies.

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).

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Primary evaluation" begins phased implementation and applications of new drugs for registration accepted under initial phase

The Department of Health (DH) today (March 31) began the phased implementation of "primary evaluation" for new drug registration. The initial phase covers applications for the registration of drug products containing locally registered chemical entities with extended applications (e.g. new indications, new strengths, new posology, new dosage forms, etc). Applications are accepted from today. The DH has sent letters to notify pharmaceutical associations and stakeholders (including holders and applicants of certificates of drug registration), and will organise online briefing seminars next month to explain the relevant details.

As mentioned in "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government would establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) in 2026 and begin the phased implementation of the "primary evaluation" mechanism for new drug registration in the same year. The HKSAR Government aims to achieve full coverage of all pharmaceutical products by 2030, which will enable Hong Kong to independently assess and approve the safety and efficacy of new drugs based on clinical data, with a view to expediting the introduction of innovative medical products, thereby achieving the goal of making good drugs and medical devices available for use in Hong Kong for the benefit of patients.

To pave the way for "primary evaluation", the Government first implemented the "1+" drug approval mechanism on November 1, 2023, to facilitate the registration of new drugs in Hong Kong for treating life-threatening or severely debilitating diseases. The mechanism was extended on November 1 the following year to cover all new drugs, including all new chemical or biological entities, new indications, vaccines and advanced therapy products. New drugs that are supported by local clinical data and recognised by local experts can be applied for registration in Hong Kong if the applicant submits evidence of approval from the drug regulatory authority of one non-local reference place (instead of two in the past). Since the launch of the "1+" mechanism, 19 new drugs have been approved under this mechanism. Seven of them have been listed in the Hospital Authority Drug Formulary. This brings new treatment options for patients and attracts more drug research and development (R&D) as well as clinical trials to be conducted in Hong Kong.

"Primary evaluation" is a new and comprehensive regulatory process to approve applications for registration of new drugs which involves the independent assessment of primary data of all pre-clinical trials (i.e. animal testing), clinical studies, pharmacovigilance, manufacturing and quality control, etc in order to fully ensure their safety, efficacy and quality before and after the drugs are placed in the market (i.e. throughout the product life cycle). Registering new drugs under the "primary evaluation" mechanism facilitates immediate approval without relying and waiting for approval from non-local drug regulatory authorities, which further speeds up the introduction of new drugs and clinical applications. This will not only help speed up patients' access to breakthrough treatments but also boost medical R&D, testing and related industries in Hong Kong. The Office for Introducing Innovative Drugs and Medical Devices under the Hospital Authority will, after ascertaining the needs and benefits of innovative drug treatments for local patients, proactively liaise with manufacturers of innovative drugs and medical devices, and utilise the "1+" mechanism for registration to bring in innovative drugs and medical devices that are beneficial and cost-effective for patients.

For details of applications for the registration and the briefing seminars, please visit the DH's dedicated website.

Source: AI-found images