XN000022-1985-06-18 — Page 7

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ON

TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1985

THEY ENJOYED, ON THE WHOLE, BETTER OPPORTUNITIES THAN GRADUATES OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE MORE READILY ACCEPTED BY THE INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, HE ADDED.

A SUMMARY OF THE JOBS UNDERTAKEN BY GRADUATES REVEALED THAT MOST WERE EMPLOYED IN AREAS RELATING TO THEIR COURSE OF STUDY 41 PER CENT WERE EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY, 16.9 PER CENT IN COMMERCE 5.5 PER CENT IN PUBLIC UTILITIES, TWO PER CENT IN GOVERNMENT AND 6.2 PER CENT IN OTHER FIELDS SUCH AS EDUCATION OR NON-PROFIT- MAKING ORGANISATIONS.

AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY, THE AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY OF EMPLOYED GRADUATES WAS 8.6 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN 1983.

THE SURVEY ALSO INDICATED THAT 77 PER CENT OF THE GRADUATES HAD TAKEN UP SOME FORM OF PART-TIME STUDY AFTER GRADUATION -- 47.9 PER CENT ATTENDING EVENING COURSES AND 33.8 PER CENT PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE COURSES.

STUDENT LOAN FUNDS OFFERED FOR 1985-86

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STUDENTS OF POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NEED OF A LOAN TO COMPLETE THEIR STUDY ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE 1985-86 ACADEMIC YEAR FROM TWO STUDENT LOAN FUNDS.

THE FUNDS WHICH PROVIDE INTEREST-FREE ASSISTANCE ARE FROM THE HONG KONG ROTARY CLUB STUDENTS' LOAN FUND AND THE STANDARD-SING TAO FAT CHOY DRIVE STUDENTS' LOAN FUND.

MAXIMUM LOANS VARY FROM $1 800 PER ANNUM FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT TO $2 600 PER ANNUM FOR A POST-SECONDARY STUDENT.

APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WILL BE CONSIDERED BY A JOINT COMMITTEE FOR BOTH LOAN FUNDS AND PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO ARE NEARING COMPLETION OF THEIR STUDIES.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVE LOANS FROM EITHER FUNDS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A FORMAL UNDERTAKING TO REPAY THE IR LOANS BY INSTALMENTS OF AT LEAST 10 PER CENT OF THE IR MONTHLY SALARY FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THEIR STUDIES.

THE LOANS WILL THEN BE PAID DIRECTLY INTO THE IR PERSONAL CURRENT OR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WITH A LOCAL BANK.

THESE LOANS