Taiwan Pledges Help for Fleeing Hongkongers, Riles China

Taiwan Pledges Help for Fleeing Hongkongers, Riles China
Protesters holding banners in support of Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrators attend a rally against the Chinese regime's newly announced national security legislation for Hong Kong, at Taipei main train station on May 23, 2020. Ben Blanchard/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

TAIPEI—Taiwan promised on May 28 to settle Hongkongers who flee the Chinese-ruled city for political reasons, offering help from employment to counseling, and prompting angry condemnation from Beijing as it pushes security legislation for Hong Kong.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen this week became the first world leader to pledge specific measures to help people from Hong Kong who may leave the former British colony because of the new legislation.

Chen Ming-tong, head of Taiwan’s top China-policy maker, the Mainland Affairs Council, told parliament that the government will establish an organization to deliver “humanitarian relief” that includes settlement and employment in a joint effort with activist groups.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen delivers her inaugural address at the Taipei Guest House in Taipei on May 20, 2020. (Wang Yu Ching/Taiwan Presidential Office/Reuters)
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen delivers her inaugural address at the Taipei Guest House in Taipei on May 20, 2020. Wang Yu Ching/Taiwan Presidential Office/Reuters

He said counseling services will also be available for Hongkongers, some of whom may have taken part in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

“Many Hongkongers want to come to Taiwan. Our goal is to give them settlement and care,” Chen said, urging the public not use the word refugee as it could be “emotionally harmful” for people from the city.

Chen didn’t give details, such as scale and timing of the relief, when pressed by lawmakers, saying the government is still working on the program.

China denounced Taiwan’s move, saying its ruling Democratic Progressive Party was seeking to “loot a burning house” and sow discord.

Pro-democracy supporters scuffle with riot police during a detention at a rally in Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong, on May 27, 2020. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy supporters scuffle with riot police during a detention at a rally in Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong, on May 27, 2020. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Hong Kong’s demonstrators have won widespread sympathy in democratic Taiwan, which China considers as its territory, to be taken by force, if necessary. Taiwan has shown no interest in being ruled by autocratic China.

Help for Hong Kong has won rare bipartisan support in politically polarized Taiwan, and three opposition parties have introduced bills to make it easier for Hongkongers to live in Taiwan if they have to leave the city due to political reasons.

Taiwan has no law on refugees that could be applied to protesters seeking asylum, but its laws promise to help Hongkongers whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons.

Pro-democracy protesters are arrested by police in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong ahead of planned protests against a proposal to enact new security legislation in Hong Kong, on May 24, 2020. (Isaac Lawrence/ AFP via Getty Images)
Pro-democracy protesters are arrested by police in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong ahead of planned protests against a proposal to enact new security legislation in Hong Kong, on May 24, 2020. Isaac Lawrence/ AFP via Getty Images

Some say Tsai’s government isn’t moving fast enough.

“Please come up with details of the humanitarian relief at the soonest. Don’t wait until people shed blood like water,” Chen Yu-jen, a lawmaker from main opposition Kuomintang party, said.

Ivan Tang, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, welcomed Tsai’s support and said there was a sense of urgency among protesters in the city, some of whom had been barred from entering Taiwan because of travel restrictions to contain the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

Taiwan has become a popular destination for Hongkongers leaving the city, with the number of Hong Kong citizens granted Taiwan residency jumping 150 percent to 2,383 in the first four months of 2020 compared with a year ago, official data shows.

University applications to Taiwan from Hong Kong also rose 62 percent in 2020 from a year ago. The island’s education ministry said this week it was planning to raise the quota for Hong Kong students.

By Yimou Lee. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.