[Global Times Special Correspondent Zhang Tianxing] After the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the DPP authorities in Taiwan have continuously raised the threshold for immigration from Hong Kong and Macau to prevent so-called "infiltration."
According to Taiwan's "Freedom Times" report on the 26th, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council and the "Immigration Department of the Ministry of the Interior" and other relevant departments are discussing amendments to the "Measures for Hong Kong and Macao Residents to Enter Taiwan and Residence Permits."
At present, Hong Kong people go to Taiwan to stay with relatives as the largest case. Those who cannot depend on relatives usually use investment methods. They can obtain residency qualifications by investing NT$6 million in Taiwan, and they can obtain residency qualifications and ID cards after staying in Taiwan for one year. "Long-term residence" has been added to the two procedures of "residence" and "settlement" in the current permit. That is, Hong Kong and Macao residents who want to apply for settlement in Taiwan must go through three procedures. The fastest at least two years of residence before they can apply for settlement in Taiwan qualifications.
According to an official familiar with the situation, the current licensing method is too loose and that it has reached the stage of adjustment in response to the "rapid changes" in the situation in Hong Kong. In the future, people from Hong Kong and Macao will need to stay for at least 2 to 5 years; in the process of staying in Taiwan, the authorities can constantly review their potential. No problem, in order to ensure the safety of Taiwan, the ID card is not issued after one year of residence.
In addition, people from Hong Kong and Macao who have obtained 13 special achievements in professional fields or have a practicing license can apply for residence in Taiwan in a "professional way".
In the future, the DPP authorities intend to amend "Even if the applicant has a practicing license, he must contribute to Taiwanese society before he can apply." If Taiwan's professional organizations do not recognize the relevant license, they cannot go to Taiwan in this way.
For example, relevant people said that if a Hong Kong doctor thinks about Taiwan, he needs to practice in Taiwan instead of going to Taiwan to prepare for retirement and enjoy Taiwan's health insurance (medical insurance) resources.
At the same time, the DPP authorities are also vigorously attracting young people in Hong Kong.
Young people from Hong Kong and Macao who are studying in Taiwan currently apply to settle in Taiwan. They need to find a job in Taiwan and pass 8 ability assessments; the new policy will relax restrictions to "enroll outstanding talents under the age of 35 to come to Taiwan."
According to statistics from Taiwan’s “Immigration Department”, last year, the number of Hong Kong residents with residence permits and settlement permits in Taiwan reached 10,000 and 1,576; from January to March this year, there were 2441 residence permits and 570 settlement permits in Hong Kong.
According to an analysis by Commonwealth magazine, it is quite difficult for Hong Kong people to immigrate to Taiwan. One of the reasons is the deterioration of cross-strait relations.
Taiwan’s “Ministry of the Interior” previously revised some of the provisions in the “Licensing Measures” that formerly mainland residents, current or former mainland party, government, or military, public or political agencies, Hong Kong and Macao residents must pass through Taiwan when applying for residence in Taiwan. The Immigration Department, the National Security Bureau, and the Mainland Affairs Council inter-ministerial committee jointly reviewed the case and recently rejected the Hong Kong China Star boss Xiang Huaqiang and his son Xiang Zuo's application for residence in Taiwan.
In March 2020, a "Hong Kong and Macau Investment Residency Plan" appeared on the website of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, which raised the requirement that Hong Kong investment immigrants come to Taiwan to set up a company for at least one year and operate for three years. Regulations for local employees in Taiwan.
As a result, Hong Kong people who intend to apply for investment immigration to Taiwan were attacked, and Taiwan's "Ministry of Economic Affairs" had to remove the form from the shelves within one day.
However, a person in charge of an immigration consulting company revealed that "the Taiwan authorities will still modify the conditions for Hong Kong people's investment immigration in this direction."
Some Hong Kong media bluntly stated that although the DPP authorities and Tsai Ing-wen repeatedly declared that they "welcome Hong Kong people," after they obtained votes with the "Hong Kong card", this promise became a blank check.
At present, what Taiwan really wants to absorb are Hong Kong talents with professional backgrounds in finance and technology, and they are by no means thugs.