HONG KONG: Recovering drug abusers, including some from Christian Zheng Sheng College will get a boost from some 30 companies that plan to offer about 70 job placements and long-term work opportunities.

The youngsters will be paid about HK$2,500 to HK$6,000 a month, said the Council of Social Service, which had invited companies to create positions to help recovering substance abusers.

Six students from Zheng Sheng college will start work this summer. Other positions will be offered later to youngsters receiving drug rehabilitation services at the Barnabas Charitable Service Association, the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission and Operation Dawn.

Students at Zheng Sheng college, which offers guidance to teenagers troubled by drugs and other problems, see the new positions as important opportunities for them.

"I am thrilled to be offered a job. I will try my best to do it well," said the student, Jenny Tsang Wai-ngor, 30. She will work at the Another Fashion Community Kitterick as a saleswoman for a month this summer.

She said she started her studies at the college in 2004 and may return to the school to help other troubled kids after her one-month placement.

Choi Ka-yi, 18, who also will work at the boutique, said the job placement will be a good first-hand experience for her, to give her a chance to see if she can fit in at that kind of job.

Gurung Prakash, 24, a Nepalese who completed his studies at the college two weeks ago, said he had a job interview last week and expects to be hired as an electrician and welder at an engineering firm for a month.

"I learnt repair work of water and electricity supplies at the college and want to put my skills to use," said the former drug abuser.

Chan Siu-cheuk, the college's principal, offered praise for the community effort. "This shows the strong willingness of our community to accept them. Many want to help these youngsters," he said.

He counted some 30 firms that had approached his school to offer short-term or long-term jobs to his students over the past month. He chose the best positions offering the greatest prospects to his graduates.

The Ocean Empire, a chain shop specializing in Cantonese congee, will hire a student from the Christian Zheng Sheng College.

The company's managing director, Caecage Siu Chor-kee, said the company will offer the student a long-term position if he performs well during the placement period.

Christine Fang Meng-sang, the Council of Social Service's chief executive, said she has been overwhelmed by the positive response from companies so far and she hopes more firms will join to make the program even stronger.

(HK Edition 07/07/2009 page1)