Dr. James Sung Senior Lecturer School of Continuing and Professional Education, City University of Hong Kong

Many Hong Kong firms have already set up shop on the mainland in anticipation of strong market growth there.

More professionals, too, are taking up jobs on the mainland.

But are they sufficiently prepared for the lifestyle and working environment on the mainland? Dr James Sung, senior lecturer at the City University of Hong Kong's School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE), thinks not.

He says Hong Kong people planning to work in China should better prepare themselves for the move.

Hong Kong universities hold short to medium China-related business courses that can help them, Dr Sung says.

He points out that since the 90s, universities here have been providing such courses, which include subjects like Chinese law and accountancy.

China needs 300,000 MBAs

Dr. Sung says China in the post-WTO era will need a lot of professionals and people with international business savvy and with MBA degrees, in order to compete effectively against foreign companies which are moving into the country in large numbers in the wake of WTO.

He quotes a Chinese official as saying there will be more than 300,000 jobs for MBA graduates in China in the next 10 years. Universities on the mainland are currently producing only 3,000 MBA graduates a year. To fill the gap, China has to recruit overseas, including Hong Kong.

Better understanding of Chinese business culture vital

Dr Sung thinks Hong Kong people do not know enough about how the government in China works, or about its structure, regulations and policies. Knowing how to deal with Chinese officials and Chinese businessmen is also very important for a Hong Kong person working in China, he says.

SCOPE will be holding a course on China in April this year. It provides a good opportunity for people to learn more about how things are done across the border.

Study in China - it's cheaper and good for network building

There are definite advantages in taking courses in China, the main one being cost.

The tuition fee for an MBA course at Tsinghua University, one of China's top universities, is only RMB 70,000, compared to between $200,000 and $300,000, charged in Hong Kong, Dr Sung points out.

Another advantage is the opportunity for building business connections on the mainland.

The Singapore Government, for instance, has a scholarship scheme for Singaporeans wishing to study in China, and parents in Taiwan, too, have been sending their children to universities in Beijing and Shanghai.

Dr Sung would like to see the Hong Kong Government doing something similar for Hong Kong students.

Taken from Career Times 2002/03/08