{
  "id": 4071837,
  "title": "Visa policy brings in more foreigners on short-term jobs and HK$20,000 salaries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/visa-policy-brings-in-more-foreigners-on-short-term-jobs-and-hk-20",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-29T01:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365664/visa-policy-brings-more-foreigners-short-term-jobs-and-hk20000-salaries"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The General Employment Policy (GEP) in Hong Kong has seen a significant increase in the number of foreign nationals granted working visas, with about 80% of successful applicants being hired on short-term contracts. These visas, which numbered 31,278 last year, marked a 2% increase from the previous year, although they fell short of the 40,000 annual level seen in 2018 and 2019. A notable trend is that 47.5% of the successful applicants earned less than HK$20,000 (US$2,564) per month, a figure that also increased from 64% in 2023. The GEP's new category for creative industry and performing arts services has contributed to this trend, with 2,340 applications approved so far. The influx of short-term workers is seen as beneficial for Hong Kong's economy, particularly in sectors like tourism, catering, retail, and hospitality, driven by the mega-events that attract international visitors.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Visa policy brings in more foreigners on short-term jobs and HK$20,000 salaries",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/visa-policy-brings-in-more-foreigners-on-short-term-jobs-and-hk-20-4073982",
        "published": "2026-08-29T01:00:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}