As such, Hong Kong Polytechnic University has introduced new courses in recent years to its PgD/MSc in international shipping and transport logistics in areas such as transport logistics in China, shipping law (including admiralty, Chinese maritime and port law), and port management.

With a steady enrolment of 50 students in Hong Kong and about 80 in collaborative institutions in the mainland, PolyU caters for leaders in the shipping, logistics and transport industries, many of whom already operate businesses in the mainland.

'China is expanding very, very quickly in terms of its shipping fleet and port infrastructure,' said Dr Wong Hon-shu, programme director. 'It requires more and more professional people in this area.'

Last year, Hong Kong handled 221 million tonnes of seaborne and river cargo, 72 per cent of which was by ocean-going vessels. The majority of this cargo was carried by standard-sized 20-foot-equivalent (teu) containers. Hong Kong handled almost 22 million containers in 2004, making it the busiest container port in the world. But by 2010, Shanghai or Shenzhen probably could claim that title. 'Hong Kong would still be a significant port, but the ports in China are catching up fast in volume and quality of service,' said Dr Wong.

To give Hong Kong businesses an edge in the industry, participants enrolled in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's master of technology management in global logistics management have travelled to Switzerland for classes at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and to visit a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and Mercedes Benz plant.

Dr Raymond Cheung Kaman, an associate professor with the Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistic Management, said the trip would expose the programme's 20-odd participants, many of whom are in mid-to-senior management positions in the industry, to the inner workings of high-end manufacturing facilities. This area could play a role in the future of the local economy, helping offset the high expense of doing business in Hong Kong compared with the mainland.

'If we want to do logistics in Hong Kong, we need to look at high end products such as medical equipment or medicines,' Dr Cheung said.

Stephen Cheng Wui-yau, founder of the education and training consultancy Superguide Consultants that offers a Master of Business in logistics management with RMIT University in Australia, said a closer economic partnership between Hong Kong and the mainland through Cepa (Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) meant there were more opportunities for both sides to work together.

Mr Cheng, executive vice-president of the Hong Kong Logistics Association, said a growing number of logistic services companies from Hong Kong were co-operating with the mainland. Students in Superguide's collaborative master's programme come from Shanghai, Guangdong and Hong Kong to better learn about logistics and supply chain management.

'China comes to solicit Hong Kong investors to invest in infrastructure, warehouses and transportation systems to speed up their logistic development,' said Mr Cheng. 'Hong Kong people should look to China to further develop the factory base. A lot of products are coming from China. They should and need to be shipped through Hong Kong.'

Mr Cheng looked to Hong Kong's 'world-class' container port and international airport to accomplish this. Last year, for example, Hong Kong International Airport handled more than 3.1 million tonnes of cargo, a 17.4 per cent increase from 2003. 'Hong Kong will become very prosperous as long as it keeps busy through cargo movement,' Mr Cheng said.