The Internship Programme for University Graduates has received an enthusiastic response since it started accepting internship offers from enterprises and organisations on June 10, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says.

Speaking at the programme's briefing session today, Mr Cheung said the scheme provides valuable learning and development opportunities to graduates who want to build their careers in Hong Kong, the greater-China region or internationally.

Attractive offers

Commissioner for Labour Cherry Tse said the 12 participating tertiary institutions and the Labour Department have started receiving internship vacancies.

"The average monthly salary of vacancies received so far is close to $9,000, with 80% of them offering a monthly salary above $8,000. The highest offer is $12,000," she said.

"Apart from some Hong Kong, Chinese and overseas enterprises which have expressed interest in recruiting university graduates as Mainland interns, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association has been playing a pivotal role in launching the programme.

"Among other support, the association has mobilised its member companies with different backgrounds including banking, construction, real estate, hotel and tourism, to offer a significant number of training positions for the programme."

Offering vacancies

Enterprises and organisations interested in offering internship vacancies can complete and return forms directly to the institutions concerned.

For enterprises and organisations interested in providing internship opportunities to Hong Kong residents who have graduated from universities outside the city, they can submit completed forms to the programme's office.

The 12 participating tertiary institutions and the department will examine the internship positions offered, with particular reference to the job nature, training contents, potential benefits to the graduates and remuneration packages, before deciding whether to accept the offers.