Taiwan To Step Up Scrutiny On Possible Spies From HK

Taiwan said on Monday it will step up scrutiny of mainlanders who are residents of Hong Kong and seek to move to the island to ensure they do not engage in spying or other illegal acts.

Taiwan has offered to welcome Hong Kong people who wish to move to the island, especially after Beijing imposed a new national security law on the former British colony, though Taiwan officials have expressed concern some who come may be spies.

The new measures are aimed at "strengthening the management" of people from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau who have residence in either of the two cities and seek to settle in Taiwan, the island's Mainland Affairs Council said.

It aims to prevent them from "carrying out infiltration, united front, disturbance or spying activities", the council said.

United front refers to the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department, which is in charge of co-opting overseas Chinese and non-communists.

The order targets Hong Kong and Macau residents who are originally from the mainland, or who are current or previous party, government or military officials, the council added.

Applications from such people will be subject to cross-department review to help protect national security, it said.

Taiwan in July opened an office to help Hong Kong people who wish to move to the island.

Taiwan has long been wary of mainland efforts to influence its democracy through illicit funding of politicians and the media and other methods like spying.

Its parliament last year passed an anti-infiltration law to improve how Taiwan combats perceived threats from the mainland. (Reuters)