Hong Kong’s top drama school to stage entrance as university town expands campus

Hong Kong is set to nearly double the campus area of one of three university towns planned for the Northern Metropolis to 75 hectares, with space reserved for a second campus for the city’s only public institution specialising in performing arts.

According to a paper submitted to North District Council by the Development Bureau and picked up by the media over the weekend, the campus area of Ta Kwu Ling university town – which is part of a 250-hectare zone earmarked for priority development – will increase from 40 to 75 hectares.

Ta Kwu Ling is one of three planned university towns under the Northern Metropolis megaproject, which aims to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land near the border with mainland China into an engine for economic growth and a housing hub.

Ta Kwu Ling’s expanded campus area would comprise 10 land parcels along the Ping Yuen River and Shenzhen River.

“In response to public views, about seven hectares of land will be reserved for the construction of a second campus for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts,” the paper said, without revealing further details.

In addition to incorporating artistic elements, the bureau said the town would also support the development of emerging and traditional industries, while reserving space to address “future needs.”

“To promote Hong Kong as an international post-secondary education hub and a cradle for high-calibre international talent, the government will expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town,” the paper added.

The campus site will also allow for the development of shared facilities such as libraries, sports grounds, performance venues, laboratories as well as student and staff quarters.

The paper is scheduled for discussion at a North District Council meeting on Tuesday.

The Northern Metropolis’s three planned university towns are the 26-hectare Hung Shui Kiu project, the 100-hectare San Tin university town and the 180-hectare Ta Kwu Ling development.

Each town comprises four distinct zones: campus, technology, industry and living community.

Campus areas earmarked for priority development in the three towns were originally allocated 22, 52, and 40 hectares, respectively.

According to the latest policy address and the city’s first five-year plan, Ta Kwu Ling university town will incorporate arts and development elements combining natural water features and green spaces, while reserving strategic development space for future needs.

San Tin university town will focus on the development of medicine, life and health technology and artificial intelligence while the Hung Shui Kiu hub will focus on smart manufacturing and applied post-secondary education.

Land resumption and clearance will begin in the second quarter of 2028, followed by site formation works later that year.

Parts of the Ta Kwu Ling campus sites are projected to be formed by 2030 at the earliest, with the first intake of new residents expected to start in 2035.