Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, president of Saint Francis University, has publicly called for a shift in the financial model for the Northern Metropolis university town project. While acknowledging that private institutions are capable of funding their own individual campus construction, Cheung argues that the government should take greater financial responsibility for shared facilities used by multiple institutions.

Cheung’s proposal emphasizes the need for a collaborative ecosystem rather than isolated campus developments. He suggests that the government provide specific research funding designed to encourage universities to work together, rather than competing for resources. The proposal aims to lower the barrier for private institutions to operate within the Northern Metropolis by reducing the capital burden of common infrastructure.

Currently, the government has not issued a formal response to these specific funding requests, and the extent of public-private cost-sharing for the Northern Metropolis remains a point of ongoing policy discussion. Cheung’s comments highlight a growing tension between the government’s desire for private sector participation in education and the financial realities faced by institutions attempting to establish a presence in the new development area.