Taipei threatens permit payback after Taiwan officials forced to leave Hong Kong over one-China principle

The Mainland Affairs Council says Taiwanese authorities will ‘uphold national dignity’ and act ‘based on parity and reciprocity’

Row comes after four officials posted by Teco in Hong Kong were forced to leave after refusing to sign a statement upholding the one-China principle

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Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council may reciprocate after its officials in Hong Kong have not had their work permits renewed. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:15pm, 20 Jul 2020Updated: 12:04am, 21 Jul 2020

Taiwanese authorities may not renew work permits for Hong Kong officials on the island in retaliation for similar treatment by the Hong Kong government, amid souring relations following the introduction of a national security law in the city.

Taiwan’s policymaking Mainland Affairs Council, which also handles Hong Kong and Macau affairs, has threatened to take action after the Hong Kong government failed to renew permits for Taipei officials stationed in Hong Kong because they refused to sign a document supporting the one-China principle.

“Our side will take necessary actions to uphold our national dignity … and deal with the case based on parity and reciprocity,” the council said in a statement on Monday, responding to Hong Kong’s handling of the work permit issue. It did not elaborate.

Hong Kong has set up the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (HKETCO) as its representative office in Taipei operating – like its Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) counterpart – as a quasi-diplomatic agency.

Larry Chu, deputy director general of HKETCO, has been the acting chief since mid-2018. He is about to complete his tenure soon, said a source familiar with the matter. There are 11 other senior HKETCO officials, and the tenures of some of them are also due to expire this year, the source said.

The latest row came after four senior Taiwanese officials posted by Teco in Hong Kong were forced to leave the city after they refused to sign a statement “rigorously upholding the one-China principle” and agreeing to abide by Hong Kong law as a condition of having their work visas renewed.