Secretary for Education Leads Delegation to Visit Switzerland to Explore Development Strategies and Collaboration Opportunities

SED visits Switzerland with delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS Alliance), visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). The delegation conducted on-site visits to local higher education and innovation and technology infrastructure, with a view to providing solid references for the planning and development of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT).

The delegation first visited the University of Basel, the oldest university in Switzerland, which was founded in 1460. The delegation toured Biozentrum, the flagship research centre of the university, to gain an in-depth understanding of its successful experience in conducting frontier scientific research and promoting the integration of industry, academia, and research. Leveraging its unique geographical advantage, Biozentrum has established exceptionally close partnerships with local multinational pharmaceutical corporations and leading innovation and technology companies in Basel, where the biomedicine and life sciences industries are highly developed.

The delegation met with the President of the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Mr Conradin Cramer, and the President of the University of Basel, Professor Andrea Schenker-Wicki, to learn how the University of Basel has successfully transformed fundamental research into practical medical and industrial applications through its excellent interdisciplinary research.

Dr Choi said that the Ngau Tam Mei site in the NMUT is also reserved for the development of life and health technology and related innovation. The development model of the University of Basel perfectly demonstrates how a top-tier higher education institution and frontier scientific research centre can drive deep integration of peripheral industries and create a powerful synergy. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government hopes to draw on the successful experience of the university and make reference to its practice in long-term fundamental research, promoting close collaboration with industries and leveraging geographical advantages, thereby optimising the industry-academia-research layout in the NMUT and the Ngau Tam Mei site.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited ETH Zurich, a globally acclaimed institution for nurturing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) talent and fostering industry-academia integration. The delegation met with the university management to learn more about the university's campus development layout and spatial planning strategies. ETH Zurich created an organically connected research ecosystem through the high-level integration of cutting-edge research facilities, teaching spaces, as well as industry collaboration areas.

Dr Choi said that the layout of research facilities planned by the university enables researchers from different disciplines to conduct cross-disciplinary collaborations in a highly fluid space, and attracts industry partners by utilising the campus' open spaces. This planning concept allows the teaching area, research area, and industry-academia collaboration area to complement each other, and has a high reference value for Hong Kong's planning and construction of a modern university town in the Northern Metropolis that combines educational functions with industry driving force.

The UAS Alliance was established in 2024 to promote collaboration between Hong Kong's universities of applied sciences, industries and stakeholders, with a view to driving the development of vocational and professional education and training while supporting Hong Kong's development into an international post-secondary education hub. The Alliance comprises four post-secondary institutions as founding members, with Hong Kong Metropolitan University and Saint Francis University as full members, and Tung Wah College and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong as associate members.

On May 20 (Bern time), Dr Choi proceeded to Bern upon arrival in Switzerland and met with the President of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Professor Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, to learn about EPFL's experience in teaching and research.

EPFL is committed to promoting interdisciplinary research, particularly in key areas such as data science, biomedical engineering, robotics and advanced manufacturing, and cultivates students' technical capability by adopting a "learning-by-doing" approach. It also fosters collaboration between researchers and industries by promoting knowledge and technology transfer.

Afterwards, Dr Choi met with the Head of International Relations Division of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, Mr Jacques Ducrest, to exchange views on the latest trends in different fields of international education and explore further co-operation between Hong Kong and Switzerland in education.

Dr Choi also paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr Qian Minjian, and briefed him on the development of the NMUT in Hong Kong.

Dr Choi and the delegation will continue their visit to Zurich on May 22 (Zurich time).

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (left), paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr Qian Minjian (right), in Bern, Switzerland, on May 20 (Bern time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, met with the Head of International Relations Division of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, Mr Jacques Ducrest in Bern, Switzerland, on May 20 (Bern time). Photo shows Dr Choi (left) and Mr Ducrest (right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, met with the President of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Professor Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, in Bern, Switzerland, on May 20 (Bern time). Photo shows Dr Choi (left) and Professor Fontcuberta i Morral (right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). Photo shows Dr Choi and the delegation touring ETH Zurich to see the campus facilities. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). Photo shows Dr Choi (right) visiting ETH Zurich and being briefed on spatial planning strategies and the construction of a new teaching and research facility. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). Photo shows Dr Choi (second left) and the delegation visiting ETH Zurich and being briefed on the campus development layout. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). Photo shows Dr Choi (first left) introducing "Study in Hong Kong" to the President of the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Mr Conradin Cramer (first right), and the President of the University of Basel, Professor Andrea Schenker-Wicki (second right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). Photo shows Dr Choi (first right) and the delegation meeting with the President of the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Mr Conradin Cramer (first left), and the President of the University of Basel, Professor Andrea Schenker-Wicki (second left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). Photo shows Dr Choi (third right) and the delegation touring facilities of the University of Basel. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, and representatives from the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, visited Switzerland yesterday (May 21, Zurich time). Photo shows Dr Choi (first right) and the delegation visiting Biozentrum, the flagship research centre of the University of Basel, and being briefed on the research work. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming passenger was sentenced to 29 days of imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 23) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming 58-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (May 22) and seized 1 981 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from him. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $8,100, and the duty potential was about $6,500. He was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases