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University Grants Committee welcomes Chief Executive's 2017 Policy Address

The Chief Executive (CE) announced in her Policy Address today (October 11) a number of new initiatives relating to the higher education sector in Hong Kong, including setting up the Task Force on Review of Research Policy and Funding, providing financial support to local students admitted to UGC-funded research postgraduate programmes and setting up of the Hostel Development Fund.

In response to the CE's Policy Address, the Chairman of the UGC, Mr Carlson Tong, welcomed the Government's initiatives. Mr Tong said, "The new Task Force, under the leadership of Professor Tsui Lap-chee, will certainly bring insightful thoughts to the research support strategy in Hong Kong to further enhance the quality and excellence of research undertaken by the sector. To promote research which can be translated into social and economic advantages for Hong Kong has always been the UGC's mission. The UGC will closely involve stakeholders in the higher education sector to explore ways to take Hong Kong's research to the next higher level of excellence." In particular, Mr Tong said he would like to express his appreciation that the Government has committed to set aside no less than $10 billion as additional funding for university research upon the completion of the work of the Task Force.

The CE also announced in her Policy Address that the Government will inject $3 billion into the Research Endowment Fund to generate investment income to provide studentships for local students admitted to UGC-funded research postgraduate programmes. This initiative aims to incentivise local students to engage in research work in the higher education sector. Mr Tong welcomed this new initiative to enhance research development in the higher education sector and to attract more local students to engage in research.

"I am also very pleased to learn that the Government will set up a $12 billion Hostel Development Fund for the construction of university hostels. The UGC believes that hostel experience will greatly benefit local students and also help attract non-local students to study in Hong Kong, creating more internationalised campuses," Mr Tong said.