HK deepens marine knowledge with nation's support
China DailyIvy Cheng Aifang examines samples collected from the South China Sea. CHINA DAILY Initiatives launched In 2018, in response to Xi's instructions, the central authorities announced a series of initiatives, which included allowing higher education and research institutions in Hong Kong to apply for national-level funding for science and technology, while receiving cross-border remittances for approved projects. Since 2019, the Hong Kong branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory has received 114 million yuan in national funding, which is used mainly for research, expeditions, and international exchanges and cooperation. Qian said the central government also allows faculty members at Hong Kong universities to apply for grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology. HKUST launched joint doctorate programs in marine environmental science with the Guangzhou and Zhuhai branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory and the University of Shenzhen.