Political situation
Written by: Zhai Ruimin
2020-07-21 23:53
Last update date: 2020-07-21 23:53Taiwanese media recently reported that when Gao Mingcun, acting director of the Hong Kong Office of the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan, applied for a renewal of his work visa, he was forced to leave Hong Kong when he was asked by the Hong Kong government to sign a "support for one China" statement. According to local media reports, the MAC will no longer issue work visas to staff in the Hong Kong office in Taiwan, and quoted the MAC’s response that based on the principle of equality and reciprocity, the MAC will take the same action to counter the situation.
The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau replied and confirmed that the residence endorsements of two Hong Kong dispatched personnel were not approved by the Taiwan side and the relevant personnel had returned to work in Hong Kong earlier. The Constitutional Affairs Bureau reiterated that the Economic, Trade and Cultural Affairs Office has been committed to promoting exchanges and exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan in the economic, trade and cultural fields. The relevant work is still continuing and has not been seriously affected for the time being.
According to local media reports, the MAC will no longer issue work visas to staff in the Hong Kong office in Taiwan, and quoted the MAC’s response that based on the principle of equality and reciprocity, the MAC will take the same action to counter the situation. (Profile picture)
According to a Taiwan media report a few days ago (19th), the Taiwan authorities have recently stopped renewing work visas for the staff of the Hong Kong office in Taiwan, and some staff of the Hong Kong office in Taiwan have left Taiwan due to visa problems.
Taiwan media quoted the MAC as saying that the Hong Kong office was established after the Taiwan and Hong Kong governments negotiated and exchanged letters. It is hoped that we can return to the existing consensus basis of both sides to handle related matters, and jointly maintain the normal exchanges between Taiwan and Hong Kong and the rights and interests of the people of both sides. However, it has not been confirmed whether Gao Mingcun, acting director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, left Hong Kong because of the refusal to sign the "Support for One China" statement.
According to local reports, in addition to Gaoming Village, several supervisors have also left Hong Kong and returned to Taiwan for the same reason. The successor has not yet been able to come to Hong Kong to take up his post because he failed to apply for a visa. It is reported that only one of the five team leaders of the Taiwan Office in Hong Kong is in Hong Kong.
The MAC is Taiwan’s administrative agency responsible for coordinating and handling cross-strait affairs. Its office in Hong Kong is called the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, formerly known as China Travel Service. In June 2018, Lu Changshui took over the post of Director, but was also unable to come to Hong Kong due to the delay in issuing a work visa. As a result, this post was vacant for nearly 15 months.
Hong Kong version of the National Security Law│MAC: It is impossible for the Hong Kong government to request information from Taiwan agencies in Hong Kong
[Hong Kong version of the National Security Law] MAC: Will protect the rights and freedoms of Taiwan's institutions in Hong Kong
Hong Kong version of the National Security Law｜The detailed rules require Taiwan political organizations to submit data to the MAC: Stifling normal exchanges
National Security Law | The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Commission approves the National Security Law as "the most exaggerated in history", calling the CCP "an enemy of the world"
Mainland Affairs Commission Cross-Strait Relations