Shipping scholarship: Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Eva Cheng presents a $4-million cheque to Polytechnic University Vice-President (Academic Development) Suleyman Demokan for the Maritime Scholarship Scheme.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Eva Cheng has signed an agreement with the Polytechnic University to launch the $4-million Maritime Scholarship Scheme. The first batch of scholarships will be awarded in the 2007-08 academic year.

The scheme will attract local and Mainland talent to take up maritime-related post-graduate programmes in Hong Kong.

The scholarship, covering the full tuition fee and a living allowance, will be granted to successful applicants on the condition they agree to work full time in Hong Kong's maritime industry for at least one year after completing the study. Initially up to 10 scholarships will be awarded, and the number of scholarships may be increased if necessary.

Elite workforce

"To maintain and strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre, it is important to ensure the continued supply of sufficient professionals to meet the demand of the industry, including home grown talents with seafaring skills and experience to manage our ships and to fill a wide range of jobs in the shore-based maritime related sectors," Ms Cheng said.

"The scheme, supported by the Maritime Industry Council, will help build up an elite workforce for the Hong Kong maritime industry to sustain its development and enhance its service quality in the overall interest of Hong Kong."

The university, Hong Kong's only institution offering post-graduate courses relevant to the scheme, will be its administrator. A steering committee, chaired by lawmaker and Maritime Industry Council member Miriam Lau with representatives from the industry, the university and the Government, has been formed to work out the implementation details, select the scholarship awardees and oversee the scheme's implementation.