Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), there has been a wave of emigration from Hong Kong. In addition to the United Kingdom and Canada, Taiwan is also one of the famous spots for immigration. However, the Taiwan government has handled more than 70 administrative complaints for Hong Kong residents to apply for residency and settlement in the past two years, all of which were rejected by the Executive Yuan in Taiwan, pertaining to “a risk of prejudice to national security or interests.” Current affairs commentator Ng Chi-sum said that sometimes it is difficult to understand the Taiwan government’s decision, describing Taiwan’s immigration policy as “really tight.”
The Epoch Times reporter looked up some of the appeal decisions on the website of the Executive Yuan in Taiwan and found that the Executive Yuan’s reasons for rejecting the appeal of applicants from Hong Kong were mainly related to their previous employment in Hong Kong. Also, some companies set up by immigrant investors in Taiwan have been accused of having suspicious accounts.
For example, in case No. 1110181703, which was processed on Sept. 15, the applicant was an employee of PCCW Global Business. The person continues to work from home in the “PCCW Global” in Taiwan. The residence permit for dependents, which was approved in 2021, was revoked because of the “risk of harm to national security or interests”.
Case No. 1110186201 was processed on Sept. 7. The applicant used to work for Cathay Pacific Catering Services (Hong Kong) Limited (Cathay Pacific), the Hospital Authority, and Maxim’s Caterers Limited (Maxim). The Executive Yuan pointed out that Cathay Pacific is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (CPA), and the major shareholders of CPA include “Air China” and the Hong Kong government; Hospital Authority is a Hong Kong public organization; the shareholders of the Maxim have publicly supported the Hong Kong police and criticized the anti-extradition bill movement, an enormous social movement in Hong Kong in 2019, so it is difficult to rule out the connection of those companies with mainland China. Furthermore, the sales volume of the tea company established by the applicant in Taiwan does not match the amount in the bank book, so the application for settlement by investment immigrants was not approved.
Case No. 1110186105 was processed on Sept. 7. The applicant used to work in the Nursing School of Grantham Hospital in Hong Kong and Pok Oi Hospital in Hong Kong. The Executive Yuan pointed out that the two institutions were public hospitals, and the actual expenses of the applicant’s other company in Taiwan did not match the bank account withdrawal fee, so the application for investment immigrant settlement was not approved.
MAC: National Security Is Not the Only Factor
In response to a media inquiry, Taiwan’s MAC stated that the “extremely low percentage” of Hong Kong people who failed the examination was not pertaining to the single factor of “national security,” but mostly due to lack of operational performance and non-compliance with the required documents. The Taiwan Immigration Service stated that it has approved many Hong Kong and Macau residents and Hong Kong civil servants born in mainland China to go to Taiwan according to the mechanism; not all of them are denied permission.According to statistics from the Taiwan Immigration Service, the number of Hong Kong people who have obtained “Residence Permit” has soared from 4,057 in 2016 to 10,813 in 2020 and 11,173 in 2021, while the number of Hong Kong people who have obtained “Settlement Permit” has remained at about 1,000 to 1,600 cases per year, rising from 1,086 in 2016 to 1,685 in 2021.
Hong Kong people who would like to immigrate to Taiwan through investment must open a physical company in Taiwan, invest at least 6 million Taiwan dollars US$190,000), continuously employ at least two local full-time employees, and operate for at least three years. Settlement can be applied if the person has stayed in Taiwan continuously for one year and has been out of the country for less than 30 days in one year; or has lived in Taiwan for two consecutive years and has lived in Taiwan for at least 270 days each year.
Ng Chi-sum: Sometimes It Is Difficult to Understand
Ng Chi-sum, a current affairs commentator, said on his YouTube channel that it is sometimes difficult to understand the Taiwanese government’s decisions. He specifically mentioned an immigration case involving a former CUHK clerical assistant. He believed that the reasons for the dismissal of the case were unclear. He also pointed out that primary schools, secondary schools, and kindergartens in Hong Kong were all subsidized by the government. He questioned whether all Hong Kong people working in public institutions were unable to immigrate to Taiwan, reflecting that Taiwan’s immigration policy is “very tight”.Regarding Hongkongers born in mainland China may not be able to immigrate to Taiwan, Ng pointed out that Hong Kong independence activists Edward Leung and Nathan Law were both born in mainland China, and questioned what the Taiwan government’s standards were, “What’s the difference between the current Taiwan government and the Kuomintang government decades ago which often suspect people are “Chinese Communist agent?”
Ng also revealed that many Hong Kong people who plan to immigrate to Taiwan have become discouraged and instead immigrate to other countries because the Taiwan government has changed the “game rules.” Many Hong Kong people have already bought properties in Taiwan, and their children are studying in Taiwan, but they are not approved to settle down after living in Taiwan for a year, so they end their business in Taiwan and move to the UK instead.
