Taiwan moves to screen out mainland saboteurs and spies while opening to Hongkongers fleeing security law
- Strict vetting applies to Hong Kong and Macau residents who are mainland citizens and have worked in mainland Chinese government, political party and military posts
- Some 3,161 Hong Kong residents gained residency on the island in the first six months of this year, up 116 per cent from the same period last year
The latest move, which targets mainland spies and saboteurs of the island’s security, came after Taiwan offered a relocation programme for Hongkongers seeking to flee the city under political or other concerns, according to the Mainland Affairs Council.
In a statement on Monday, the MAC, which charts the island’s policy towards the mainland, said the interior affairs ministry recently revised the “Regulations Governing Permits for People from Hong Kong and Macau Setting up Residence or Permanent Residence in the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official title)”.
Under the amendments, Hong Kong residents who are mainland Chinese citizens and those who are serving or had worked in Chinese government, political party and military posts, will be subject to strict screening if they apply to settle on the island.
“This is to prevent them from using their Hong Kong resident status to apply for relocation in Taiwan in order to carry out infiltration, united front, disturbance or spying activities,” the council said.
MAC officials said the screening would be conducted by a cross-department ad hoc committee involving officials from the National Immigration Agency, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the National Security Bureau and Investigation Bureau as well as other relevant agencies.
“The immigration and security authorities are responsible for checking the backgrounds of the applicants. If one is found to have Chinese citizenship and is serving or had served in those posts before, he or she is highly likely to be rejected for relocation to Taiwan,” an interior affairs ministry source said.
The amendments also targeted those who were suspected of engaging in terrorist acts, or had taken part in or funded acts of sedition, subversion and treason, the source said, adding that it also included Macau residents originally from China or who were in or had been in government, party or military positions