President Tsai Ing-wen said May 27 that she has directed the Cabinet to draw up an action plan as soon as possible to assist Hong Kongers looking to move to Taiwan.
 
“Our commitment to caring for the people of Hong Kong will not change no matter what adjustments we make to our system,” Tsai said, adding that plans are being formulated to clarify procedures for Hong Kongers seeking employment and residency.
 
Tsai made the remarks in posts on her official Facebook and Twitter accounts following the return of protests to Hong Kong over a planned move by China to impose a national security law on the region.
 
According to Tsai, Taiwan cares deeply about the situation in Hong Kong and fully supports its people’s desire for freedom and human rights. A democratic and free Hong Kong is key to regional peace and stability, she said.
 
The government has welcomed people from Hong Kong for many years, Tsai said, adding that more than 5,000 Hong Kongers applied for residency in Taiwan in 2019, an increase of 41 percent from the year before.
 
The president called on China to keep its promises that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy and its way of life would remain unchanged for 50 years following the end of U.K. rule in 1997. She also urged Beijing to halt the controversial national security legislation and resume peaceful dialogue with Hong Kong society. (SFC-E)