Hong Kong temporarily suspends functions at representative office on Taiwan
19 May, 2021
Hong Kong's representative business office in Taiwan has temporarily suspended procedures, a Hong Kong government spokesperson said on Tuesday (May 18), adding sole that your choice was not linked to the rise in COVID-19 cases there.
Tensions between your Beijing-backed Hong Kong government and Taiwan experience risen since protests erupted found in Hong Kong in 2019 and China imposed a good sweeping national security legislation this past year to quell the unrest, prompting many activists to keep the city.
Taipei has criticised regulations and opened an area office to help persons who may choose to leave Hong Kong.
Taiwan's democratically elected innovator President Tsai Ing-wen provides been supportive of Hong Kong's democracy movement.
This past year, Taiwanese officials on Hong Kong were told their visas would not be renewed unless they signed a document supporting Beijing's state to Taiwan under its "1 China" policy, a person with direct understanding of the problem told Reuters.
Before this month, Taiwan warned only eight officials remained in the Hong Kong business office and their visas is only going to last until the end of the entire year.
Hong Kong's Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau announced your choice to suspend the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Business office in Taiwan without offering an explanation.
It said requests for assistance would be handled through hotlines and via the Hong Kong government website.
"The suspension is not related to the pandemic circumstance in Taiwan. We do not have anything further to include," a Hong Kong government spokesperson said.
Asked whether the closure was linked with politics, the spokesperson declined to comment.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it had been working on a reply on the matter.
Hong Kong abides by China's view that democratic, self-ruled Taiwan is usually part of its territory and must be seized one day, by force if necessary.
Like Beijing, Hong Kong does not recognise Taiwanese authorities as legitimate.
However, there exists a large amount of trade between Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Regarding to Hong Kong's government, Taiwan is its second-largest trading spouse, its third-largest industry for domestic exports, its fifth-largest market for re-exports and its own second-largest source of imports.
Representative offices were opened throughout a warmer amount of ties.
Hong Kong's business office started procedures in 2011 and acts much just like a consulate, managing enquiries from residents in Taiwan and business and cultural exchanges.
Taiwan comes with an equivalent office found in Hong Kong.
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