Taiwan's Hong Kong and Macau Relations Act ran into criticism as soon as it was made law yesterday. Taiwan scholar Doctor Milton Yeh warned that it failed to tackle future relationships with the two territories following their respective handovers to China. This reflected a lack of vision by the Government in dealing with Hong Kong and Macau, added Dr Yeh, a researcher at Taiwan's National Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations. He was also worried about the effect of Taiwan joining the World Trade Organisation, as expected later this year. 'The act has not mentioned how the status of companies from the two territories will be changed once Taiwan is accepted as a member of the World Trade Organisation,' said Dr Yeh. But he added that the act was a step forward in legalising administrative practices already employed by Taiwan government organisations. 'It provides a legal foundation and a mandate to the administrative bodies in their handling of Taiwan-Hong Kong and Taiwan-Macau ties,' he said. And direct links between Taiwan and the two territories after their handovers could become a model for cross-strait transport links. Dr Yeh added that the act also gave the Government the legal authority to adopt special measures in cases of emergency such as an exodus of refugees from Hong Kong and Macau.
