China has selected a second group of 126 professors to undertake large teaching and academic research programs in universities, which are funded by Hong Kong-based Cheung Kong Scholarship Plan, the Ministry of Education announced.

The professors will be invited by colleges and universities nationwide to give regular academic lectures and collaborate on research, the ministry announced yesterday.

To build a strong team of higher-level talents for the country's scientific and economic development, the ministry and Hong Kong-based Li Ka-Shing Foundation started the Cheung Kong Scholarship Plan in August 1998.

Aided by the foundation, the Ministry of Education has decided to invite domestic and overseas professors to head 612 departments in 119 colleges and universities throughout the country. And each professor receives 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) of salary per year.

The first group of 73 professors, selected in 1998, have played an active role in upgrading higher-level research projects, according to the ministry's Personnel Affairs Department.

Professors supported by the foundation are openly selected through fair competitions.

"This will set a good example for higher-learning institutions to reform personnel and distribution systems, to phase out the previous tenure or seniority-dominated employment practices," said the department official.