Tsai Administration's "Backing Hong Kong" Gone Awry？HK Immigration to Taiwan Declines Sharply
United Daily News, June 26, 2023
In 2019, the protests in Hong Kong broke out, and the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan loudly proclaimed its support for Hong Kong. In July 2020, the administration established the “Taiwan-Hong Kong Services and Exchanges Office” to assist the Hong Kong people. As the office approaches its third anniversary, the number of Hong Kongers immigrating to Taiwan for “residency” and “permanent residency for naturalization” has dropped by 20 and 23 percent, respectively. Many Hong Kongers have expressed that their applications are being made difficult, with their national security background checks shrouded in haze. It has led them to question: “Why has the promise to the Hong Kong people changed?”
When the office was established, the Tsai administration issued a press release stating “This fully demonstrates our support for the Hong Kong people’s democratic freedom and human rights as well as our determination to care for them.” This has led many Hong Kongers to dream of residing in Taiwan. Three years have passed, and not only have the goals not been achieved, but it has become increasingly difficult for them to come to Taiwan. As a result, many of them are now saying “Taiwan is no longer the preferred option for the Hong Kong people.”
More Hong Kong People Choosing to Emigrate Again
After 2019, the number of Hong Kong people on “residency” and “permanent residency for naturalization” programs in Taiwan grew for two consecutive years, reaching a peak in 2021. In 2022, however, the number noticeably diminished, with residency dropping to 8,945, a year-on-year decline of 19.94 percent, and permanent residency for naturalization plummeting to 1,296, a year-on-year decline of 23.09 percent.
Along with this significant “double decline,” many applicants have reported facing difficulties in their applications, including longer review periods and added national security background checks. This has caused more and more Hong Kongers to become unwilling to stay in Taiwan—their alternatives being returning to their homeland or emigrating again to the U.K., Canada, or Australia.
Review Process Vague, Lacking Clear Timeline
Cathy, a Hong Kong resident who came to Taiwan through investment immigration in 2020, unceasingly faced requests for additional documents in her permanent residency for naturalization application. After a long period of endless waiting, she ultimately chose to leave Taiwan, emigrating to the United Kingdom. She stated, “If the Tsai administration does not want the Hong Kong people to come, they should just directly reject the applicants. Why deliberately make things difficult?”
Accountant Chung Yao-sheng, who has long been assisting with Hong Kong and Macau immigration matters, mentioned that before October 2021, the review process was normal, and cases meeting the criteria were approved within one or two weeks. Later, similar cases took several months, with many investment immigration cases extended by one year of observation, and student and family reunion immigration cases facing technical delays. He cited that his firm handled over a hundred cases last year, with over 70 percent giving up, and 90 percent of those chose to go to Britain. What confuses him is that the current reviews are conducted in a more ambiguous way, with no clear timeline, leaving applicants uncertain about when they will be approved after spending money, time, and even relocating their whole families to Taiwan.
The Mainland Affairs Council responded that the Hong Kong people misunderstood the regulations for residency and permanent residency for naturalization. They mistakenly thought that holding residency for a certain period would automatically lead to approval for permanent residency for naturalization. Officials also mentioned that the disorder in investment immigration practices, such as some withdrawing their investment after obtaining residency goes against the intention of the policy. In regard to requests for additional documents, they explained the authorities always inform the applicants of reasons for such.
Mr. Wu, a Hong Kong resident operating a coffee shop in Taipei, bluntly stated that the explanations given by different staff members are inconsistent, and the Hong Kong people are still unclear about the basis of the review. Miss Jiang, a Hong Kong resident who obtained her identification card last year, expressed surprise at the existence of the Taiwan-Hong Kong Services and Exchanges Office, saying “It’s the first time I’ve heard such an office, and I am not sure how it can help the Hong Kong people.”
Sky Fung, secretary-general of the NGO Hong Kong Outlanders, stated that even if the applications are not approved, the government should still clearly inform them how long it will take to receive the results. Liao Yuan-hao, associate professor of the Department of Law at National Chengchi University, suggested that if the government wants to demonstrate solidarity with the Hong Kong people, they should adopt a “formal review” process, meaning that as long as the requirements are met, approval should be granted.