SED attends seminar on enhancing basic research in higher education institutions
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (July 13) attended a seminar on enhancing basic research in higher education institutions in Beijing. She elaborated on the policy measures by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to fully support the sustainable development of the local basic research ecosystem. She also put forward proposals on further deepening co-operation between higher education institutions in Hong Kong and the Mainland in the field of basic research.
Higher education institutions play a pivotal role in advancing the country's strategy of invigorating the country through science and education. Meanwhile, possessing robust strengths in basic research, the HKSAR Government has been working closely with the University Grants Committee (UGC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) to provide comprehensive support for the development of the basic research ecosystem.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Choi said that in terms of strengthening investment in scientific research and deepening collaborative innovation among industries, universities, and research institutes, the Government has continuously expanded the scale of research funding. A new round of the Research Matching Grant Scheme with a funding of $1.5 billion has been launched. Through the General Research Fund and the Early Career Scheme, nearly 1 500 basic research projects are being funded in the current academic year. Meanwhile, the RGC provides the Collaborative Research Fund and the Research Impact Fund to promote interdisciplinary and collaborative research across various sectors. In addition, the UGC is conducting the Research Assessment Exercise 2026 to assess research outputs in accordance with international standards.
On expanding the pool of basic research talent, the Government has progressively increased the number of UGC-funded research postgraduate places to 7 200. The quota for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme has also been increased to 400, attracting more than 3 800 outstanding students from around the world to Hong Kong to date. The RGC also supports young scholars through various schemes under the Junior Research Fellow Scheme. Notably, the newly introduced Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme this year provides 40 slots annually to support local scholars in conducting collaborative research at top-tier overseas institutions.
"We are committed to deepening international co-operation and global engagement. Collaborative research projects between Hong Kong universities and their Mainland and overseas counterparts have increased from around 4 200 in 2014 to over 7 700 in 2025, among which collaborations with Mainland institutions and scientific research organisations have grown to over 3 900. Apart from establishing joint research schemes with France, Germany, the United States and the European Union, the RGC has also deepened co-operation with the National Natural Science Foundation of China to support key national areas such as AI, life and health, and green energy. The RGC will also host a Research Summit in December this year to further enhance Hong Kong's international academic influence," said Dr Choi.
To further strengthen co-operation in basic research between higher education institutions in the two places, Dr Choi put forward four proposals at the conference, which include enhancing the development of international academic collaboration networks between both sides, actively participating in and contributing to major national research projects, strengthening basic research collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong, and facilitating the mobility of scientific research personnel.
The HKSAR Government will continue to deepen collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and global innovation networks in the future, with a view to consolidating the foundation of basic research and providing solid talent support for the country's scientific and technological self-reliance, thereby contributing to the modernisation of the nation.
Dr Choi will return to Hong Kong tonight after attending the seminar.
Source: AI-found images
Housing Bureau clarifies unfounded allegations online
A spokesman for the Housing Bureau (HB) said today (July 13) that online allegations that the Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition Limited established by the Government to acquire ownership of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po is a shell company on the verge of bankruptcy are entirely unfounded. It cannot be ruled out that the allegations are made by individuals with ulterior motives to confuse the public. The Government must set the record straight.
The spokesman stressed that the Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition Limited has been established by the Government with full Government support. In addition, there is absolutely no risk of a shortfall in funding required for the acquisition of titles of the flats of Wang Fuk Court. Apart from the $2.8 billion provided by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (the Support Fund), $4 billion has been earmarked under the 2026-27 Budget for the acquisition of Blocks A to G of Wang Fuk Court. For the additional acquisition cost for Wang Chi House, which is estimated to be about $1 billion, the Government will seek funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council this Friday.
Currently, the Government has been progressively signing formal Agreement for Sale and Purchase with the owners who have submitted the duly signed "Letter of Acceptance".
The spokesman said, "After receiving the 'Letters of Acceptance' returned by the owners and verification of the information therein, the HB will arrange relevant owners to sign the formal Agreement for Sale and Purchase, including those owners from Wang Chi House which are now covered under the long-term housing arrangement plan. As of July 10, the Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition Limited has already signed the Agreement for Sale and Purchase with over 550 owners of Wang Fuk Court. The Government is sparing no effort in assisting the completion of the assignment procedures as soon as practicable according to individual circumstances. Up to now, the assignment procedures have been completed for two flats and the acquisition amounts have been disbursed to the relevant former owners."
The HB noted that individual owners have raised queries regarding the Deed of Undertaking and Indemnity (the Deed) in the Appendix to the Agreement for Sale and Purchase and the rental grant arrangement for owners who have sold the title of their properties but are unable to purchase a flat under the Special Sale Exercise.
The spokesman said that the main purpose of the Deed in the Appendix to the Agreement for Sale and Purchase is to require owners to make legally binding declarations and confirmations regarding the title status of their properties before the completion of the transaction, including that the owner is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the property, that the property is free from any third-party interests or rights of occupation, and that the property is not subject to any civil proceedings or claims. This arrangement serves to ensure that the buyer obtains a clean and undisputed title after completion of the transaction. Regarding the indemnity provision in the Deed, should any third party mount a legal challenge against the title status of the buyer after the completion of the transaction based on the existing interests or claims related to the property, the owners shall be liable to indemnify the resulting losses. The applicable circumstances of the provision are that the declarations and confirmation made by the owners in the Deed are untrue or incomplete. It is not directed at any unrelated or newly arisen disputes. The requirements for declarations and indemnities regarding the absence of any third-party interests or rights of occupation in respect of a property are also common in property transactions in general.
On the rental grants, the Government announced in end of December 2025 that the Support Fund will provide owners of each unit in Wang Fuk Court with an annual rental grant of $150,000. The grant will be provided for two years and disbursed on a semi-annual basis, with each payment being $75,000.
For individual owners who have accepted the Government's acquisition offer but cannot purchase a flat under the Special Sale Exercise in the end, they can still receive cash payments from the Government and choose a flat that better suits their needs in the private market. They can also obtain the Green Form status for two years (counting from the date on which the relevant funds are credited to their account) to purchase a subsidised sale flat with premium unpaid in the secondary market. The relevant rental grants will be provided up to the date on which the relevant cash payments are credited to their account. Rental grants received before the credit date need not be refunded, but no further grants will be disbursed thereafter.
If owners have any questions about the acquisition or need any assistance, they may contact their designated Engagement Team member or call the hotline at 2129 8133. The team stands ready to provide appropriate assistance. Owners may also visit the dedicated website for the long-term housing arrangements for Wang Fuk Court (www.hb.gov.hk/wfc) for further details.
Source: AI-found images
