Taiwan has given veteran Hong Kong movie star Anthony Wong an employment gold card, allowing him to work in the country for the next three years. The special government permit for foreign professionals also entitles Wong to national health insurance and a lower rate of income tax.
The 59-year-old actor has been in the movie business for almost 40 years, starring in Hong Kong hits like “Initial D”, “Still Human” and the “Young and Dangerous” film series. In the West, he is best known for his roles in 1992’s “Hard Boiled”, the acclaimed thriller “Infernal Affairs”, and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”.
Wong publicly criticized police brutality during the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong in 2014. Since then, Wong says the mainstream Hong Kong film industry has shunned him. Despite being overlooked for roles, Wong has continued to collect awards, including Best Actor at the 2019 Hong Kong Film Awards.
In March this year, Wong finished filming the first season of the cookery series “Friends by Foodtruck” for the streaming platform LINE TV. He then left Taiwan, before returning last Tuesday. Wong’s agent has confirmed that Wong successfully applied for the employment gold card in March, and that he plans to stay in Taiwan until June.