Recently, job seekers from various parts of China have reported that they participated in the “Hong Kong Northern Metropolitan Area” (referred to as “Northern Metro”) related recruitment activities in Shenzhen, where they paid tens of thousands of RMB in intermediary fees but have yet to secure any job opportunities. An investigation has revealed that the companies involved have disappeared, leading to a large number of victims in the area seeking to recover their money.
According to Hong Kong media outlet “HK01,” since 2024, several recruitment agencies based in Shenzhen have been posting job information for positions in the “Hong Kong Northern Metropolitan Area” on social media platforms such as WeChat and TikTok, attracting job seekers from Guangdong, Hubei, Henan, and other regions to sign up. The positions cover various categories including construction, machinery operation, janitorial services, and catering.
Job seekers were required to pay between 15,000 and 45,000 RMB for a “Hong Kong labor information consultation” fee, with the promise from the “recruitment company” that once paid, they would be arranged to work in Hong Kong. However, many job seekers discovered after making the payment that there were no actual job placements secured for them, and their attempts to contact the companies were met with no response. Upon visiting the registered office addresses, they found the offices empty, with some companies completely untraceable. Recently, a large group of job seekers have been demanding refunds in the area.
Job seekers mentioned that the contracts they signed prohibited them from copying or taking photos, and the promotional materials of the intermediary companies contained obvious spelling errors and incorrect project names. Some companies had Hong Kong district flags wrongly displayed in their offices, with maps of the Northern Metro area on the walls in an attempt to appear legitimate, despite lacking any actual employment opportunities.
One of the implicated intermediary companies’ owners posted multiple photos in July this year, claiming they were “waiting for project updates.” “HK01” verified that some of these photos were actually taken from social media posts made by Hong Kong Legislative Council member Chan Yuet Ming in June of the same year.
Investigations revealed that “Shenzhen Yihang Weiye Information Consultation Co., Ltd.” (referred to as “Yihang Weiye”) played a major role in this scam. The company claimed to have a “strategic partnership” with a Hong Kong company, and the funds collected by several intermediaries ultimately flowed to this company.
Some victims have gathered in protests in Longgang District, Shenzhen, demanding refunds and explanations. There have even been instances of emotional outbursts and fainting among the affected individuals at the scene. In response, relevant departments in Longgang have set up mediation sites, where company representatives like “Yihang Weiye” meet with the victims.
“Yihang Weiye” admitted to recruiting under the name of “Northern Metro,” collecting deposits through “partners,” with some funds flowing to the company; however, they have yet to arrange for anyone to work on the Northern Metro project. At the same time, the company denied any fraud accusations, stating that the failure to fulfill the positions was due to disputes with their upstream partner, China (Hong Kong) Longshun Labor Services Co., Ltd.
In response to inquiries from “HK01,” the Hong Kong Development Bureau stated that under the “Construction Industry Imported Labor Plan,” the labor service companies or agents used by employers approved to import labor quotas do not include “China (Hong Kong) Longshun Labor Services Co., Ltd.”
Currently, local authorities have received reports regarding this case, mentioning the complexity of the situation due to the large number of individuals involved, and an ongoing investigation is underway.
The Hong Kong Labour and Welfare Bureau reminds that mainland workers seeking employment in Hong Kong legally must go through a registered intermediary and have the employer obtain government-approved quotas. Most of the companies involved are not on the government’s approved list, and job seekers are advised to be cautious. Officials suggest applying for jobs in Hong Kong through the 14 legally certified mainland labor service companies to protect their rights and avoid falling victim to scams.
The “Northern Metro Project” refers to the development project of the northern metropolitan area promoted by the Hong Kong government, involving large-scale residential and commercial construction.