The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) yesterday announced that it is planning to build a new college and two new hostels apart from the two colleges announced earlier to cope with the increasing number of students.

Announcing the university's plans, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Ching Pak-chung said the new college and the two hostels would be built in the western part of the CUHK campus.

The university is expected to cope with additional 3,000 students in 2012, the first year when tertiary education would be extended to four years, he said.

The plan will accommodate 600 resident students and 600 non-resident students, Ching said.

He said the project would be completed by 2012.

Two new colleges, Morningside College and S H Ho College, would be built by 2012, in addition to the university's existing four colleges.

The colleges would be located at the north of University Avenue, next to the University Sports Centre, with views facing the Tolo Harbour.

Facilities to cater for fully residential colleges with communal dining would be provided, Ching said.

Morningside would cater for 300 students, while S H Ho would offer seats for 600 students.

Ching pledged that the university would uphold the principle of sustainable development and environmental protection when developing the campus.

Trees with high preservation value would be kept, while Ching said about 100 other trees would be felled for building the colleges.

He, however, said that the university would plant more trees to make up for the loss of trees.

He said solar energy would be used to protect the environment.

"Of course, that would increase the building costs. But this is worth spending as it will protect the environment," Ching said.

The university had got HK$100 million donations for Morningside and HK$170 million for S H Ho College.

The height of buildings for the two colleges would range between four-story to 10-storey, protecting the view.