First University Town Building in Northern Metropolis Ready by Year-End
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's first five-year plan, unveiled by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday, marks a significant milestone for the Northern Metropolis initiative. The first building in the ambitious university town project, Loop Academy One, will be completed by the end of 2026, signaling rapid progress in Hong Kong's largest integrated development strategy. The project encompasses three university towns with a combined core campus area of 300 hectares, designed to foster synergy between education, technology, and talent development.
Key Points
- The flagship building, Loop Academy One, is located in San Tin University Town at Hetao, also known as the Lok Ma Chau Loop .
- Three university towns have been officially named: San Tin University Town, Hung Shui Kiu University Town, and Ta Kwu Ling University Town .
- The total area of the three towns spans over 1,000 hectares (2,472 acres), with a 300-hectare core campus area .
- Original land allocations were 52 hectares for San Tin, 22 hectares for Hung Shui Kiu, and 40 hectares for Ta Kwu Ling, with expansions planned .
- The Hung Shui Kiu site will be ready this year, allowing universities to begin bidding this month, while Ngau Tam Mei and New Territories North sites are scheduled for 2028 and 2030 respectively .
Why It Matters
The Northern Metropolis university towns represent Hong Kong's strategic vision to attract world-class institutions and research institutes to drive innovation-led growth. By integrating educational facilities with adjacent strategic industry zones, conservation areas, and residential communities, the project aims to position Hong Kong as a regional education and technology hub .
The Northern Metropolis university towns represent Hong Kong's strategic vision to attract world-class institutions and research institutes to drive innovation-led growth. By integrating educational facilities with adjacent strategic industry zones, conservation areas, and residential communities, the project aims to position Hong Kong as a regional education and technology hub .