The Taiwan–Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council held an event on Tuesday to support people from Hong Kong living and settling in Taiwan. The council’s secretary general, Lu Chang-shui (盧長水) said at the event that the government welcomes and values every individual who decides to live and settle in Taiwan.
Lu says that in the past five years, the approval rate for Hong Kongers applying for residency in Taiwan has exceeded 97%. Of these, around 9,000 individuals meeting specific conditions have been granted settlement permits, with an approval rate of nearly 75%.
According to the statistics from the National Immigration Agency, from 2018 to the end of October this year, a total of more than 46,000 Hong Kong residents have been granted residency in Taiwan. When combined with Macau residents, the total reaches almost 53,000 individuals.
Lu says that applications are reviewed rigorously in order to protect Taiwan's free, democratic, and open system. He adds that the government is providing the necessary guidance for cases still waiting for approval, and that the government hopes that individuals from Hong Kong wishing to settle in and genuinely contribute to Taiwan, can realize their plans.