Taiwan Opens Office To Help People Fleeing Hong Kong

Taiwan opened an office on Wednesday to help people fleeing Hong Kong after Beijing imposed its national security law on the SAR, with a senior minister saying Taiwan would continue to support freedom and democracy in the Hong Kong.

Speaking at the opening of the office in central Taipei, Chen Ming-tong, the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, said the facility shows their determination to aid Hongkongers.

"This is an important milestone for the government to further support democracy and freedom in Hong Kong," Chen said.

He declined to say how many people they expect to come, or how many applications they had received so far.

Taipei-based diplomatic sources have said they expect only the most radical and less well-off Hongkongers to come to Taiwan, with most others preferring to go to Western countries like Canada, Britain and the United States.

Some 200 Hongkongers have already fled to the island since the pro-democracy demonstrations began last year, rights groups say.

Chen's deputy, Chiu Chui-Cheng, said about two dozen people will work in the new office and that they had already received "many calls".

Those who come to Taiwan will need to do so legally, and the office has at least 20 hotlines to field enquiries, Chiu added.

Necessary assistance will be given, including accommodation, he said.

Chen warned Beijing was also seeking to target people in other countries with the law.

"This not only targets residents in Hong Kong. It's also an order issued by the Celestial Empire to people all over the world," he added, referring to the central government.

The new laws will apply to permanent and non-permanent residents of Hong Kong.

Beijing denies stifling Hong Kong's freedoms and has condemned Taiwan's plans to help Hongkongers.

Late Tuesday, the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office said the new law would "cut off the black hand" of Taiwan's meddling in Hong Kong. (Reuters)