At the Town Planning Board (TPB) meeting today (July 11, 2025), the University of Hong Kong (HKU) reported the latest progress on the Global Innovation Centre (GIC) development, including an update on engagement with stakeholders, the outcome of its review on site selection with justifications, and a preliminary development timeline.
HKU presented the preliminary directions for revising its proposal for developing the GIC and exchanged views with the TPB members. The presentation focused on the proposed key adjustments, the vision of the GIC and its significance, as well as the success factors for the GIC. All the enhancements proposed are made in light of the concerns raised by members of the public during previous rounds of consultation following the TPB meetings in November 2024.
The key highlights of the preliminary directions for revision are recapped as follows:
• Reduced Development Density and Site Area: Taking into account the suggestions from the Southern District Council and community members, HKU has proposed a new site boundary by incorporating a piece of land currently zoned as “Residential (Group C) 6”. The site area has also been reduced by 7,000 square meters, or 15% when compared to the original proposal.
• More Green Belt Preserved: Consequential to the revised site boundary, over 75% of the Green Belt area can be retained (approximately 3.2 hectares). The remaining Green Belt area to be used will be mainly for enhanced connectivity (see bullet below). Additional measures will also be explored to retain as many trees as possible and increase green coverage in the site through innovative design.
• Enhanced Connectivity: A new through-site route within the GIC will be provisioned to facilitate internal pedestrian and traffic flow. Additionally, the GIC stands ready to open this route for public use with a view to improving district accessibility and easing potential pressure brought by the pedestrian and traffic flow along Pok Fu Lam Road and Victoria Road.
• Retaining Visual and Air Permeability: The revised site boundary allows a setback of more than 100 metres from the border of Upper Baguio Villa, and another setback of at least 30 metres from the existing buildings of the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired. In addition, the future design will incorporate visual and ventilation corridors, a botanical boulevard, open spaces, etc. Building heights and alignment of the GIC will also be designed in compatibility with existing developments in the vicinity.
• HKU reiterates that no P3 or P4 biosafety level laboratories will be included in the GIC. All laboratories will conform to rigorous international safety standards and stringent management protocols.
HKU welcomes the positive feedback and constructive suggestions raised by TPB members during the report today, and recognises the importance of continuous engagement with the public during the planning stage of the GIC. In the coming months, HKU will continue to communicate with different stakeholders, including but not limited to Legislative Council members, District Council members, community leaders, representatives and the residents of the nearby community, schools and green groups, with a view to gauging their feedback and formulating the revised proposal. HKU aims to submit the revised proposal and corresponding amendments to the Outline Zoning Plan concerned to the TPB for consideration in March 2026.
Before the target submission in March 2026, technical feasibility studies (including but not limited to traffic impact assessment, visual impact and air ventilation assessment, tree and ecology survey, geotechnical investigation, etc.) will be conducted at the proposed site to develop a revised proposal that can address the needs of the GIC while balancing public feedback. HKU will endeavour to take forward the GIC development through a pragmatic approach.
The preliminary revised development plan is now available on the GIC project website at https://gic.hku.hk. HKU invites members of the public, especially residents of the Pokfulam communities, to submit feedback on how we can further refine the proposal via the online form. All inputs from stakeholders and Government departments will be carefully considered in the upcoming planning and design process. HKU will also make use of the project website to provide updates and accurate information to keep stakeholders abreast of the development.
About the GIC
The GIC is positioned to be a world-class deep-technology research facility with interdisciplinary research as its cornerstone. It aims to become a hub for upstream blue-sky research that focuses on knowledge creation and original discovery to provide innovative solutions to challenges facing humankind, and create opportunities to improve human life.
The urgent need for a world-class research facility is underscored by Hong Kong’s aspirations to develop itself as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. The timely development of the GIC is essential to strengthening Hong Kong’s magnetic effect to attract top-notch I&T and scientific talents to pursue their research and breakthroughs in Hong Kong, thereby becoming a key engine to accelerate Hong Kong’s economic transition. The GIC will provide laboratories, research offices, lecture and conference facilities, hostels for short-term visiting scholars, and related amenities to support frontier research in emerging disciplines.
HKU presented the preliminary directions for revising its proposal for developing the GIC and exchanged views with the TPB members. The presentation focused on the proposed key adjustments, the vision of the GIC and its significance, as well as the success factors for the GIC. All the enhancements proposed are made in light of the concerns raised by members of the public during previous rounds of consultation following the TPB meetings in November 2024.
The key highlights of the preliminary directions for revision are recapped as follows:
• Reduced Development Density and Site Area: Taking into account the suggestions from the Southern District Council and community members, HKU has proposed a new site boundary by incorporating a piece of land currently zoned as “Residential (Group C) 6”. The site area has also been reduced by 7,000 square meters, or 15% when compared to the original proposal.
• More Green Belt Preserved: Consequential to the revised site boundary, over 75% of the Green Belt area can be retained (approximately 3.2 hectares). The remaining Green Belt area to be used will be mainly for enhanced connectivity (see bullet below). Additional measures will also be explored to retain as many trees as possible and increase green coverage in the site through innovative design.
• Enhanced Connectivity: A new through-site route within the GIC will be provisioned to facilitate internal pedestrian and traffic flow. Additionally, the GIC stands ready to open this route for public use with a view to improving district accessibility and easing potential pressure brought by the pedestrian and traffic flow along Pok Fu Lam Road and Victoria Road.
• Retaining Visual and Air Permeability: The revised site boundary allows a setback of more than 100 metres from the border of Upper Baguio Villa, and another setback of at least 30 metres from the existing buildings of the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired. In addition, the future design will incorporate visual and ventilation corridors, a botanical boulevard, open spaces, etc. Building heights and alignment of the GIC will also be designed in compatibility with existing developments in the vicinity.
• HKU reiterates that no P3 or P4 biosafety level laboratories will be included in the GIC. All laboratories will conform to rigorous international safety standards and stringent management protocols.
HKU welcomes the positive feedback and constructive suggestions raised by TPB members during the report today, and recognises the importance of continuous engagement with the public during the planning stage of the GIC. In the coming months, HKU will continue to communicate with different stakeholders, including but not limited to Legislative Council members, District Council members, community leaders, representatives and the residents of the nearby community, schools and green groups, with a view to gauging their feedback and formulating the revised proposal. HKU aims to submit the revised proposal and corresponding amendments to the Outline Zoning Plan concerned to the TPB for consideration in March 2026.
Before the target submission in March 2026, technical feasibility studies (including but not limited to traffic impact assessment, visual impact and air ventilation assessment, tree and ecology survey, geotechnical investigation, etc.) will be conducted at the proposed site to develop a revised proposal that can address the needs of the GIC while balancing public feedback. HKU will endeavour to take forward the GIC development through a pragmatic approach.
The preliminary revised development plan is now available on the GIC project website at https://gic.hku.hk. HKU invites members of the public, especially residents of the Pokfulam communities, to submit feedback on how we can further refine the proposal via the online form. All inputs from stakeholders and Government departments will be carefully considered in the upcoming planning and design process. HKU will also make use of the project website to provide updates and accurate information to keep stakeholders abreast of the development.
About the GIC
The GIC is positioned to be a world-class deep-technology research facility with interdisciplinary research as its cornerstone. It aims to become a hub for upstream blue-sky research that focuses on knowledge creation and original discovery to provide innovative solutions to challenges facing humankind, and create opportunities to improve human life.
The urgent need for a world-class research facility is underscored by Hong Kong’s aspirations to develop itself as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. The timely development of the GIC is essential to strengthening Hong Kong’s magnetic effect to attract top-notch I&T and scientific talents to pursue their research and breakthroughs in Hong Kong, thereby becoming a key engine to accelerate Hong Kong’s economic transition. The GIC will provide laboratories, research offices, lecture and conference facilities, hostels for short-term visiting scholars, and related amenities to support frontier research in emerging disciplines.
