China starts selecting mainland scholars for HK program

The process to select 50 mainland scholars for joint postdoctoral fellows program in Hong Kong in 2012 has started, according to a Thursday statement of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS).

The entrants for "The Hong Kong Scholars Program," who, aged below 35, all hold doctoral degrees and have considerable research excellence, will work as contractor research fellows at designated Hong Kong universities for two years, it said.

They will each receive 150,000 yuan (23,781 U.S. dollars) and 150,000 Hong Kong dollars (19,354 U.S. dollars) annually as living, research and travel subsidies.

Sponsored by the China National Postdoctoral Council under the MHRSS, and the Society of Hong Kong Scholars in Hong Kong, the program sent the first batch of mainland scholars for postdoctoral research programs in Hong Kong in 2011.

According to MHRSS, the joint program was created with the aim to blend the mainland's talents with Hong Kong's research capacities, thus promoting the country's development in science and technology as well as social and economic sectors.

The joint program focuses on basic research, biological medicine, information technology, agriculture, new energy, new-type materials and advanced manufacturing.