Applications for the Internship Programme for University Graduates will open August 1.

Full-time bachelor or higher degree students from local tertiary institutions or those outside Hong Kong in 2008 and '09 are eligible to join the programme, with priority given to '09 graduates.

There are 4,000 internship places and up to 1,000 of these are Mainland internships. Fresh graduates will receive six to 12 months training in local or Mainland enterprises.

Graduates will be able to work in more than 20 major Mainland cities, specialising in the banking, insurance, real estate, manufacturing, construction, hotel and tourism industries.

From June 10 to July 24 the average monthly salary of local internships offered by 12 participating tertiary institutions and the Labour Department is about $8,600. The highest is $17,000.