The first batch of Chinese mainland students are graduating from the University of Hong Kong with flying colors and will either pursue their career or studies in China or overseas.

Of the 28 mainland students in this batch, 23 of them will be graduating this year, and the remaining five include two on overseas exchange program, two on vocational training and one who has changed her major from one department to another, said Jack Cheng, university dean of students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

"Through our collaboration, guidance of the University and the hard work of the students, eight students (34.7 percent) have already obtained job offers from multinational companies, including international management consulting firms, the Big 5 accounting firms, international bank and prominent airline company.

Some students have also been admitted by renowned world-class universities," Cheng said.

Twenty-one year-old Zhu Wei from Beijing is set to study in a master's program on Quantative Research Methods in Social Sciences at Columbia University in the United States in September.

Speaking in her impeccable Cantonese, she told Xinhua what her most memorable experience is during the past four years at the Chinese University.

"I feel the university itself is most precious to me. The kindness and care with which the teachers and the students have treated me is also very precious. They have not only given me strength, but they have also given me much care for my needs.

"Another thing I've learned is the esprit de corps that I picked up from the students here when we do team work and projects together," Zhu said.

Zhu said she prefer returning to Hong Kong and working in banks or marketing departments of companies.

Twenty-two year-old economics student Xu Guyun from Shanghai is one of those who have been given a job in Hong Kong. He is expected to work for Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd as a manager trainee.

"My understanding of both Hong Kong and China's mainland will be quite useful for working in Hong Kong, particularly as I have deeper understanding of the mainland, I think this aspect will be quite helpful for some companies here," he said.

Xu told Xinhua during a tea gathering at the university that he cherished the liberal nature of the university most, as he was allowed to select the subjects he likes most, apart from the core subjects, adding that he has also enjoyed the extra-curricular activities there.

But the 22 year-old business administration student, Qin Ting, has a different idea. She has applied for a job with the central government and will return to Beijing to work for the Ministry of Culture.

"Because China is developing, so there are plenty of opportunities, be it in the business field or in the government. So I think so long as one works hard, one can succeeds regardless of the work environment.

"I do not believe that working in private sector is necessarily superior to the public sector or vice-versa," Qin said, adding that the job will expose her to many different cultures much in the same way as it is in Hong Kong.

According to a survey on career preferences conducted by the Career Planning and Development Center of the Office of Student Affairs of the university in December, six out of 23 (approximately 26 percent) of the students indicated their preference to work in Hong Kong, three (approximately 13 percent) chose to work in their city of origin, and the remaining 14 (about 61 percent) chose to pursue further studies, said Jack Cheng.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2002)