In a strategic move to bolster Hong Kong's position as an international education hub, the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) is leading the way by transforming a purchased hotel into a student dormitory, a project that has gained official endorsement under the government's new accommodation scheme.
The initiative aligns with the latest Policy Address, which emphasized building Hong Kong into an international education hub and enhancing the "Study in Hong Kong" brand through measures like the optimised "Hostels in the City Scheme" and the accelerated development of the Northern Metropolis University Town.
HKMU President Professor Lam Kwan-sing, in an exclusive interview with Wen Wei Po, revealed that the university's project, named MU88, has received principal approval from the Education Bureau to participate in the Urban Student Accommodation Scheme. The conversion work is expected to be completed before the 2026/27 academic year, providing 430 much-needed hostel places.
"The government's scheme has brought us significant conveniences," Professor Lam stated, reflecting on the process of repurposing the hotel in Hung Hom, which the university acquired last year for HK$1 billion. He outlined three key benefits: the retention of previously exempted gross floor area without a premium, flexibility to adapt facilities like large parking areas and back-office spaces into student-centric amenities such as gyms and study rooms, and dedicated one-stop support from a project facilitation office.
Demonstrating a strong commitment to student welfare, HKMU has taken the dormitory offline for the current academic year to focus on the comprehensive refurbishment. Professor Lam described this decision to forgo a year of rental income as "burning our boats," aiming to reconfigure rooms and add facilities like a medical room to better suit student needs.
Looking ahead, HKMU is also setting its sights on the Northern Metropolis University Town. The university has expressed its intent to relocate its School of Science and Technology to the new campus. Professor Lam proposed that authorities could support self-financing institutions by providing shared central facilities like laboratories and libraries to alleviate financial pressure.
"For our self-financing sector, construction costs are a major consideration. Having the government build everything contradicts the 'self-financing' principle, but bearing all costs ourselves is difficult. We hope for a middle ground," he explained.
He envisions the University Town as an integrated ecosystem where the tech school can be "self-sufficient," and where collaboration with industries attracted to the Northern Metropolis can flourish, ultimately driving innovation and contributing to the economic development of Hong Kong and the nation.
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