Policy Address

Diversification

28.        At present, there are three self-financing degree-awarding tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, providing some 9 000 places in total. We consider that the self-financing higher education sector has room for further expansion and is an important component of education services. To facilitate its development, we have, as announced earlier, reserved two urban sites for interested operators to provide self-financing degree programmes. These two sites, one in Ho Man Tin and the other in Wong Chuk Hang, are expected to provide some 4 000 places. We will continue to identify other suitable sites for this purpose. Meanwhile, we will take advantage of the new policy on revitalising industrial buildings to enable institutions to run self-financing programmes. We will also provide loans to help institutions meet the costs of purpose-built accommodation and facilities. To this end, we propose to increase the total commitment of the Start-up Loan Scheme by $2 billion.

29.        Developing our education services will bolster the pluralistic, international and professional outlook of Hong Kong, and make the best use of social resources in the non-government sector to provide more opportunities for local students to pursue degree education.

Formulating a Long-term Strategy

30.        In view of the rapid development of higher education in the Mainland and the region, we must review the positioning of higher education in Hong Kong and formulate a long-term development strategy. The University Grants Committee (UGC) has commenced another Higher Education Review to examine such areas as the vision and role of higher education in Hong Kong, its development trend, quality assurance and the research support strategy for the sector. The UGC aims to submit a report to the Government in 2010.

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