Task Group on New Medical School receives three proposals for establishment of third medical school
The Government announced today (March 17) that the Task Group on New Medical School has received a total of three proposals for the establishment of the third medical school before the submission deadline. These proposals were submitted by Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology respectively.
The Task Group issued a letter of invitation on December 2 last year to all universities funded by the University Grants Committee to invite local universities interested in establishing the new medical school to submit proposals by the deadline of March 17 this year.
The Task Group will proceed to the next stage of work to evaluate proposals according to the devised parameters. The Task Group earlier agreed toadopt a holistic and comprehensive approach for evaluating the proposals submitted by universities from various perspectives, in accordance with the 10 key parameters set (including innovative strategic positioning, curriculum structure and assessment methodologies, and financial sustainability). The expert advisors and other members of the Task Group will conduct an in-depth evaluation of the proposals in their respective areas of expertise. The Task Group also plans to conduct interviews within the second quarter of this year with the universities that have submitted proposals to gain a better understanding of the proposals for making a consolidated consideration.
The Task Group expects to complete the evaluation and recommend to the Government within this year a proposal that could nurture more talented medical practitioners in support of the high quality development of the local healthcare service system, while at the same time aligning with the development of Hong Kong into an international medical training, research and innovation hub.
Established in October last year, the Task Group comprises seasoned local, Mainland and overseas academics in medical teaching and university management, professionals, representatives from the Medical Council of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, as well as representatives from relevant government bureaux and departments, and is responsible for devising the direction and parameters for establishing the new medical school and selecting a suitable university for setting up the new medical school.
SEE begins visit in Beijing
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit in Beijing today (March 20).
Mr Tse visited the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the morning and toured facilities such as the National Crop Genebank of China, greenhouse of the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, and the scientific research greenhouse to learn about the country's latest agro-technology developments.
In the afternoon, Mr Tse paid a courtesy call on the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and met with the Vice Minister of the GACC, Mr Zhao Zenglian, to continue deepening exchanges on various topics such as safeguarding food supply to Hong Kong, the facilitation arrangement for exporting Hong Kong-manufactured food products to the Mainland, as well as strengthening co-operation on food trade.
During the meeting, Mr Tse expressed gratitude to the GACC for its support in safeguarding food supply to Hong Kong and its assistance in the implementation of the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance. He said that the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance, which began in May last year, has been operating smoothly and significantly shortened the time required for customs clearance of Hong Kong-manufactured food products. It was well-received by Hong Kong food manufacturing industry. Both sides expressed the hope that the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance could be applied to more food categories in the future.
Afterwards, Mr Tse met with representatives from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China (MEE), the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, and the BRI International Green Development Coalition to exchange views on topics including co-operation in ecological and environmental field and combating climate change. He pointed out that with the strong support from the MEE, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government achieved great success at the China Pavilion's Side Event of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) last year and hopes to continue telling the good stories to the world about the country and the HKSAR Government's efforts in combatting climate change through the platform provided by the COP30 this year.
Mr Tse will continue his visit in Beijing tomorrow (March 21).
SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
