The Hong Kong government has signed an agreement with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to endow the Hong Kong Maritime Scholarship Scheme with HK$4 million (US$511,740).

The scheme, supported by the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council (MIC), is aimed at attracting local and mainland China talents to take up maritime related post-graduate programmes in Hong Kong and join Hong Kong's shipping and maritime industry, a government statement said.

Said Hong Kong Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Eva Cheng: "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 seafaring skills and experience to manage ships and to fill a wide range of jobs in the shore-based maritime related sectors."

The scheme covers the full-time stream of the master's programme, an MSc in international shipping and transport logistics.

Under the scheme, both eligible local and the mainland university graduates can apply for scholarship. The scholarship will be granted to successful applicants on the condition they agree to work full time in Hong Kong's maritime industry a year after completing the programme.