Beijing warns Taiwan’s ruling party not to ‘mess up’ Hong Kong affairs
- Mainland spokeswoman describes DPP as ‘black hand’ trying to undermine city’s prosperity and stability
- Taiwan hits back and opens new office to help fleeing Hongkongers after national security law comes into force
Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, described the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party as a “black hand” that wanted to undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
“What the DPP authorities said was an undisguised distortion of facts, which served only to reveal its vicious intention to mess up Hong Kong and seek independence for Taiwan,” she said.
Zhu was responding to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and her party’s comments that the new legislation violated democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, and that Taipei would offer humanitarian assistance for fleeing Hongkongers.
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Beijing’s passage of national security law for Hong Kong draws international criticism
Zhu said: “Any person or force that attempts to undermine China’s national sovereignty, security, development interests, and the prosperity and stability of [Hong Kong] will … suffer the consequences.”
She said penalties under the new law would “surely cut off the ‘black hands’ of the DPP trying to mess up Hong Kong”.
Chen Ming-tong, head of Taiwan’s policymaking Mainland Affairs Council hit back at Beijing on Wednesday, as he opened an office to help people who want to leave Hong Kong. He said Beijing had imposed a law on the city that penalises anyone in the world who is critical of mainland authorities.
“[This law] not only targets residents in Hong Kong. It’s actually a supreme decree issued by the Celestial Empire to people all over the world,” he said, referring to the mainland Chinese government.
The legislation contains a clause targeting non-Hongkongers who say or do anything deemed to create hatred and resentment of mainland Chinese authorities.
Hong Kong security law full text:
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Chen said the new Taiwan-Hong Kong Office for Exchanges and Services “indicates our goodwill and concern for Hongkongers”. He said anyone in the city could contact the office for help – including with relocation, employment, study and investment. Those seeking to move to Taiwan for political reasons could get advice and start the process for them to travel to the island while they waited for assistance.
Chen said Taipei would treat Hongkongers as a special case and saw the city as part of “one country, one system” with the national security law now in force.
On Wednesday, Chen said Taipei was watching developments in Hong Kong before it decided whether to end a law governing their relations. For now, the self-ruled island would make it easier for Hongkongers to relocate to Taiwan, including through investment and skilled employment.
