Kwok Ming Wa, vice president of the center, said he predicted the number of applicants for 2002 is expected to rise by at least 50 percent, although the final figure will not be confirmed until January 11, 2002.

　　The center, which is a body entrusted by China's Education Ministry to process applicants from Hong Kong and Taiwan has recorded a total of 296 applicants from Taiwan for the postgraduate courses this year, compared with 106 in 2000.

　　Those applying for master's degree courses and doctorate degree courses number 121 and 175 respectively this year, compared with 56 and 60 respectively last year.

　　This year, 64 students from Taiwan have been accepted into the master's courses and 116 for doctorate degree courses, compared with 30 and 35 respectively last year.

　　Kwok said that given the not-so-good economic situation in Taiwan in recent years and China's access into the World Trade Organization leading to more employment opportunities in the mainland, many students from Taiwan have gone to study at mainland universities.

　　"Many people from Taiwan have lived in Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta region and worked in joint ventures, so the mainland may have become their favorite place for further education," he said.

　　The most popular postgraduate courses Hong Kong and Taiwanese students choose to enroll in include Master's in Business Administration, Chinese Law, Accounting, Chinese Medicine, Philosophy and Literature.