HKMU Breaks Ground on New Campus Focused on Community Health and Wellness

Speech by CS at Groundbreaking Ceremony for HKMU New Campus - A Hub for Community Health and Wellness

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) New Campus - A Hub for Community Health and Wellness today (June 9):

Dr Eddy Fong (the Pro-Chancellor of HKMU), Dr Conrad Wong (the Council Chairman of HKMU), Professor Paul Lam (the President of HKMU), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. I'm delighted to be here for the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University's Hub for Community Health and Wellness.

I have had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable development of HKMU since its establishment in 1989. From a pioneer in distance learning for adults, it has become a dynamic, comprehensive, and internationally recognised university.

With more than 170 000 graduates and over 17 000 full-time students today, HKMU has become the largest self-financing university in Hong Kong.

And despite this impressive growth, HKMU remains steadfastly committed to its founding mission: "Education for All". Through quality and flexible education, HKMU continues to offer life-long learning opportunities to individuals from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender or personal circumstances.

Being Hong Kong's first university of applied sciences, or UAS in short, HKMU has found a clear and compelling niche - to provide vocational and professional education and training, a critical driver of manpower development and a promising pathway for our youth.

This approach also echoes the 15th Five-Year Plan, in promoting the integrated development of education, technology and talent. HKMU's practical, market-driven curriculum brings that vision to life.

The new Hub for Community Health and Wellness takes this further. It will support nursing and health sciences education and research across multiple disciplines. It will be home to at least six undergraduate programmes and two higher diploma programmes, all aligned with HKMU's strategic positioning as a UAS.

HKMU has long enjoyed strong ties to industry. The new campus will deepen those ties, nurturing a new generation of industry-ready professionals. The interdisciplinary research centre will focus on solving real-world problems and, in doing so, attract the high-calibre talent required for our long-term industrial growth.

I am confident that HKMU will play a leading role in raising the status of vocational and professional education and training at the degree level, enhancing its articulation pathways and working with other member institutions of the Alliance of UAS.

The Government, let me emphasise, is committed to the sustainable development of the self-financing, post-secondary education sector.

And we back our words with action. Through the Start-up Loan Scheme, we are supporting HKMU's new campus with a loan of some HK$1.3 billion. And it does much more than ease the university's shortage of campus space.

It will house a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities, including an integrated health centre and the interdisciplinary research centre, creating an outstanding environment to support teaching, research and the promotion of health and wellness in the community.

Most importantly, this campus will enable more students to access high-quality, applied education, giving them the skills and understanding they need to serve society with competence, creativity and compassion.

I'm also pleased to note that some of the facilities in the new complex will be open to the Hong Kong public, including the integrated health centre.

HKMU has long been committed to promoting public health through targeted educational programmes and wellness activities. This new campus will clearly expand that commitment, to the benefit of all Hong Kong.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish HKMU and its new campus - a Hub for Community Health and Wellness - far-reaching success. May it become a shining example in vocational and professional education, empowering generations of outstanding graduates to contribute to the prosperity and well-being of Hong Kong and our nation.

Thank you.

Source: AI-found images

E&M I&T Day 2026 held

The E&M I&T Day 2026, organised by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, was held at the Hong Kong Science Park today (June 9). Themed "AI+ Construction", the event provided an interactive exchange platform for the trade to share the application, latest developments and innovative achievements of AI in the construction industry.

Delivering the opening speech, the Under Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam, said that the Government is proactively aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and sparing no effort to promote the "AI+" strategy. The Development Bureau (DEVB) issued a circular in March this year mandating the adoption of selected high-impact AI applications in all suitable public works projects during the design, tendering, and construction phases. In addition, site records have been fully digitalised, and construction robots have been widely adopted in public works projects. The DEVB has also developed the "SmartEye", a smart site management system, which enables remote real-time monitoring of project sites. The DEVB will continue to promote digitalisation and adopt AI for big data analytics to predict and reduce the risk of project delays and cost overruns.

The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, said in his welcome remarks that, as the innovation facilitator of the Government, the EMSD provides support to works departments for wider adoption of AI. The EMSD strives to promote the implementation and wider adoption of innovation and technologies, connecting start-ups, universities, research institutions and government departments through the E&M InnoPortal to trial innovative solutions in real-world settings and apply successful solutions to works projects.

The E&M I&T Day 2026 brought together 26 exhibitors from Hong Kong and the Mainland, attracting over 400 participants from sectors including innovation and technology, the electrical and mechanical trade, universities and public organisations across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to attend seminars and visit the exhibition. Moreover, online live streaming recorded over 100 000 views.

The E&M I&T Day 2026, organised by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and co-organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, was held today (June 9). Photo shows (from left) the Deputy Director (Trading Services) of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Vincent Chow; the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying; the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu; the Under Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam; Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) Mr Tony Ho; and the Deputy Director (Regulatory Services) of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Arthur Lee, officiating at the launching ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The E&M I&T Day 2026, organised by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and co-organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, was held today (June 9). Photo shows the Under Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam, delivering the opening speech at the launching ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases