Hong Kong approves 7,275 imported security guards
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Labour Department has been implementing the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme since September 4, 2023, and by September 2026 had received applications from employers to import 17,742 security guards. Of those, approved applications cover 7,275 security guards, while Immigration Department figures show 2,736 imported security guards were working in Hong Kong under the scheme in August 2026. In a written reply to a Legislative Council question from lawmaker Chau Siu-chung, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the government continues to give priority to local workers and allows labour importation only on a limited basis for employers facing genuine hiring difficulties and local manpower shortages. He also said the authorities strictly vet each application and can tighten scrutiny for security guards if needed through a second-tier approval mechanism.
Key Points
- The Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme began on September 4, 2023, and covers applications by employers seeking imported security guards
- By September 2026, employers had applied to import 17,742 security guards, with approvals granted for 7,275 positions.
- Immigration Department data showed 2,736 imported security guards were working in Hong Kong under the scheme in August 2026.
- Average monthly applications rose from 463 in September to December 2023 to 564 in July to September 2026, an increase of about 20%
- Employers must first conduct open local recruitment at no less than the median monthly wage for comparable posts before import approvals are granted.
Why It Matters
The figures show sustained employer demand to bring in security guards while the government tries to preserve local-first hiring rules through wage, recruitment and staffing-ratio requirements. For Hong Kong workers, any future decision to place security guard posts under the stricter second-tier approval mechanism could affect how easily employers can rely on imported labour in a sector often seen as a source of grassroots jobs.