Hong Kong Breaks Ground on New Medical Education and Research Complex at HKUST

Speech by CE at Groundbreaking Ceremony for HKUST Medical Education and Research Complex

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Medical Education and Research Complex today (April 28):

Honourable Director Zhou Ji (Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR), Professor Harry Shum (the Council Chairman of the HKUST), Professor Nancy Ip (the President of the HKUST), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It's a great pleasure to be here today for the groundbreaking of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Education and Research Complex. I am delighted to witness this milestone with you – Hong Kong's third medical school is now taking shape.

The National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in becoming an international hub for high-calibre talent. A new medical school will help turn that vision into reality, attracting and training top talent in healthcare and higher education. It will also contribute to a Healthy China, one of the Five-Year Plan's key goals, by deepening collaboration with the Chinese Mainland.

Equally important, the new medical school will ensure better quality, greater efficiency, and higher capacity in our healthcare and medical services. It will increase local doctor training, easing manpower shortages. It will help us meet the challenges of an ageing population.

Beyond these, HKUST's medical school will develop differently from our two existing ones. That will create synergy, drive innovation, generate multiplier effects, and raise our medical-education capabilities. Hong Kong is fast emerging as an international centre for medical training, research and innovation. Building a third medical school will get us there that much faster.

We are moving decisively to bring these benefits to Hong Kong. Last November, I approved HKUST's proposal, agreeing in principle to launch a four-year, graduate-entry medical programme. It offers a combined bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery degree. About 50 students will make up the first cohort, starting in the 2028/29 academic year.

HKUST's winning bid followed a rigorous assessment process by the Task Group on New Medical School and its expert advisors. They fully recognised HKUST's innovative strategy, its financial commitment and its ability to deliver.

To turn this decision into reality, the Government has set up three working groups under the Task Group. The members include relevant government departments and outside experts, such as the Chairman of the Medical Council of Hong Kong.

These groups will now work with HKUST on every stage of implementation, advising on curriculum, finances and more. I'm sure HKUST will also work closely with the Medical Council to complete course accreditation and advance all fronts.

Our goal is clear: to ensure that the new medical school and its teaching hospital become a key pillar of Hong Kong's medical teaching and service system. The Government is backing this commitment with substantial resources. We have set aside funding, on a matching basis, to support HKUST.

We have also reserved land at Ngau Tam Mei in the Northern Metropolis. That land is for the medical school's permanent campus and an integrated hospital of medical education, research and patient-care. We will also work with HKUST on the development and operational model for the new hospital.

Today's groundbreaking ceremony, here at the Clear Water Bay campus, is a tangible step forward. The eight-storey complex will rise as one of the core facilities of the medical school. It is scheduled for completion in mid2028, just in time to welcome the first cohort of students. It will support the school's phased development, and its technology-enabled teaching, for years to come.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have every confidence in HKUST. It enjoys an outstanding international reputation in science and life sciences, as well as engineering and business. The new medical school will take full advantage of these formidable strengths to create its own medical education and research foundations.

It will nurture a new generation of doctors with professional expertise, technological command, a global perspective, and a patient-centred philosophy. It will raise Hong Kong's research and medical-education capabilities.

This is the future we are building – for Hong Kong, and for every patient who will one day be healed by the doctors trained here. Let's build it together. Thank you.

Source: AI-found images

Speech by CE at Groundbreaking Ceremony for HKUST Medical Education and Research Complex Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CE at Groundbreaking Ceremony for HKUST Medical Education and Research Complex Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CE at Groundbreaking Ceremony for HKUST Medical Education and Research Complex Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CE at Groundbreaking Ceremony for HKUST Medical Education and Research Complex Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following latest information today (April 28) on the traffic and public transport arrangements during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week (May 1 to 5):

During the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs), the Transport Department (TD) appealed to cross-boundary travellers to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.

Enhancing services for travel convenience

The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week for the convenience of residents and visitors, including:

The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times from April 30 to May 5 based on passenger demand;

The train service of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Futian Stations will be enhanced from April 30 to May 3, with 13 additional pairs of trains (i.e. 26 train trips) operating daily. On May 4 and 5, there will be one additional pair of trains operating daily between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Futian Stations, and between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Shenzhenbei Stations respectively. One additional pair of temporary sleeper train trips operating between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Beijingxi Stations will also be added on April 30 and from May 5 to 7 daily;

Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed;

Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed;

Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and

The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.

Travel during non-peak hours

It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

HZMB users travelling to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic. They should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The traffic of Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads may also be affected, and passengers should remain patient while waiting.

As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau BCP and the Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.

Information dissemination

For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.

The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.

Source: AI-found images