Hong Kong's General Employment Policy (GEP) saw approximately 80% of foreign workers granted working visas last year employed on short-term contracts, with nearly half earning less than HK$20,000 monthly. The Immigration Department reported 31,278 GEP visas issued in 2023, marking two consecutive years above the 30,000 threshold but remaining below pre-pandemic levels of over 40,000. Short-term employment increased further compared to previous years, with similar trends observed in the first half of 2024. Mainland Chinese citizens are ineligible for the GEP.
Bias read (Center): The article presents statistical data on visa approvals and employment conditions without overtly favoring any political perspective. It reports figures objectively, noting trends and comparisons across years without evaluative language or emphasis on specific political implications.
