Introduction

In the recent years, we have observed rapid advancement in research outcome in universities of Hong Kong. Besides recruiting postgraduates around the world, there is a need to recruit high quality postdoctoral fellows to carry out high-level research work particularly in experimental science and engineering disciplines.

Presently, the salary for a postdoctoral fellow in Hong Kong is usually fully subsidized by the research funding of Hong Kong supervisors. The rapid development of renowned Mainland institutions has resulted production of numerous outstanding PhD graduates who have the potential to be capable postdoctoral fellows for Hong Kong. If a program can be formulated where the Mainland Government effectively recommends top PhD graduates to work in Hong Kong, and that the salary of these postdoctoral fellows is financed half by Hong Kong supervisors (Principal Investigators) and half by the Mainland government, such a program will be of mutual benefits to both sides.

Upon preparatory works among the Society of Hong Kong Scholars, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR and relevant government departments on the Mainland, a cross-border initiative was launched to nurture postdoctoral fellows under the "Hong Kong Scholars Program". On 19 December 2010, the Society of Hong Kong Scholars and the Office of the National Administrative Committee of Postdoctoral Researchers under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security signed an agreement on the "Hong Kong Scholars Program" and appointed the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre as the executive organization to be responsible for the logistics of the Program. The signing ceremony is presided over by Mr. Wang Xiaochu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security; Mr. Mo Jinqiang, Deputy Director General, Education, Science and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government; and Mr. Xie Weimin, Deputy Director-General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. The Vice-presidents (or representatives) of six UGC-funded institutions, namely, University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University, Polytechnic University and Hong Kong Baptist University, were present at the signing ceremony and the discussion that followed.

The Society of Hong Kong Scholars is extending invitation to all Hong Kong academics who are interested to be supervisors of postdoctoral fellows of the Program. The Society, with the help of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, will then compile and upload the information of Hong Kong Supervisors on the web. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will select top PhD graduates from renowned institutions in the nation and recommend them for the Program. From the year 2019 to 2021, the annual quota for the program is about 60. Selected candidates from Mainland will contact and exchange ideas with Hong Kong Supervisors to formulate the research plan and submit a proposal to the Society. The successful "Hong Kong Scholars" will be hired by Hong Kong Supervisors following established local human resources procedures of the university. The monthly salary for the Hong Kong Scholars has been fixed at HK﹩30,000. Hong Kong Supervisors are only required to pay half the monthly salary (i.e. HK$ 15,000); the remaining half will be paid (RMB 15,000) directly to the postdoctorates by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. For the mode of operation and application procedures of the "Hong Kong Scholars Program", please refer to attachment ("Guidelines and Procedures of the "Hong Kong Scholars Program").

Eligible supervisors for the Program must be full-time academic faculty members at associate professor or above. They should work at universities, currently conducting funded research projects, and with experience in supervising PhD students and/or Postdoctoral fellows.

The present Program will be of mutual benefits to both Hong Kong and Mainland. The success of the "Hong Kong Scholars Program" hinges upon the participation from academics in Hong Kong. As the executive organization of the Program, Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre sincerely invites you and your colleagues to join this Program as the Supervisor. （for Eligibility of Hong Kong Supervisors, please refer to "Guidelines and Procedures of the "Hong Kong Scholars Program" attached） Should we have the pleasure of your joining, please fill in the attached application form and return it to the Secretariat of the "Hong Kong Scholars Program" on or before 7 January, 2019.