Hong Kong housing estate Richland Gardens sparks controversy over hiring of non-local security guards

A recent decision by the owners' corporation of Richland Gardens, a government-subsidised housing estate in Kowloon Bay, has ignited a firestorm of online debate. The estate's management company has begun training and deploying a cohort of non-local security guards, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from some residents and netizens.

The corporation's announcement, made via Threads, explained that the reliance on non-local hires stems from persistent challenges in securing full-time local security personnel. They cited a staggering turnover rate of over 200 guards since 2023, suggesting that many local guards prefer part-time work. The newly hired guards, primarily from Guangdong province, are reportedly Cantonese-speaking and have completed necessary training and certification in Hong Kong.

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Most Hong Kong security guards prefer to work part-time. After the management company took over security work in 2023, it had seen a turnover of more than 200 security guards.

However, this explanation has done little to quell the controversy. Online discussions reveal a deep-seated concern among some residents, who question the timing of this decision amidst rising unemployment in Hong Kong. Accusations of cost-cutting by the management company, Pacific Extend (a subsidiary of Shui On Group's SOCAM Development, recently acquired by a Chinese firm), have been voiced. Furthermore, some residents have expressed unease about the security implications, questioning the ability to verify the backgrounds of non-local workers.

The owners' corporation has pushed back against these criticisms, asserting that the salaries for non-local guards are comparable to those of local staff and denying any intention to reduce labor costs. This situation highlights a broader tension in Hong Kong, as the government has actively expanded schemes to import non-local workers across various sectors, including security, to address perceived labor shortages. The Richland Gardens case serves as a microcosm of the complex social and economic considerations surrounding non-local employment in the city.

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The salaries of non-local security guards are “similar” to those of local staff.