The Task Force on the Development in Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta Region was formed with the mandate of assessing CUHK's developments in the region, formulating a long-term strategy for its academic, educational, R&D, training and technology transfer activities, and conducting a feasibility study on operating a second campus in Shenzhen.  The Task Force has completed its preliminary assessments and found advantages in an expanded CUHK presence in Shenzhen, where degree programmes can be offered with a suitable partner.  Such a presence will on one hand contribute towards innovation and human capital in the Pearl River Delta Region and enhance the economic diversity and competitiveness of Hong Kong, thus promoting her sustainable development.  On the other hand, it is important for the University to leverage on the resources of the mainland to scale new heights in education and research and increase its international repute, thereby helping to ensure Hong Kong's status as an international hub.

It is expected that Shenzhen would support CUHK's Shenzhen campus as a joint operation with a suitable partner, by means of land grant and construction costs.  Set-up and operating costs would be separately raised.  Finances will be independent of the Shatin campus, with no cross-subsidy.  The quality of the staff and the curricula in Shenzhen must be on a par with that in Shatin.  The increased educational opportunities would benefit students from the mainland, Hong Kong and overseas.  Students would have more internship and employment opportunities on the mainland.  A Shenzhen campus will also help to tap wider educational and research resources, with long-term benefits to CUHK's development.  The University has initiated discussions with the Shenzhen Municipal Government and proposes to shortly enter into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to provide a platform for more concrete discussions.  Subject to detailed arrangements being firmed up and found acceptable in a more thorough feasibility study, the University would then consider signing an agreement to take the matter forward.

CUHK has been deepening its educational and research involvements in Shenzhen.  Since 2004, it has offered in Shenzhen a MBA programme jointly with Tsinghua University.  In 2006, it joined the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Shenzhen Municipal Government in establishing the CAS-CUHK Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Integration Technology.  In 2009, it entered into a further memorandum of cooperation with the Shenzhen Government and also established the CUHK-BGI Genome Centre with the Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen.  In the same year, the foundation stone was laid for the CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute in Nanshan District, Shenzhen.  The Institute, which will occupy 25,000 sq. m. over 10 storeys, is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.  CUHK's next natural target of development in the region would be the possibility of operating a second campus with a suitable partner.