TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The government is considering implementing stricter citizenship rules for people from Hong Kong and Macau to prevent Chinese influence through immigration.
The government is reviewing the regulations on the entry and permanent residency of people from Hong Kong and Macau, said an official to Liberty Times. Unlike other foreign nationals, Hong Kong and Macau residents can apply for permanent residency and obtain a Taiwan ID after just one year of residence, whether through marriage, investment immigration, or professional skills.
That official said that due to national security concerns, the government amended the regulations for Hong Kong and Macau residents in 2020. Under the revised rules, residents from these territories who have worked for CCP, Chinese public institutions, or the PLA, or have been employed by CCP-affiliated enterprises or media in Hong Kong, may be denied residency permits.
The official emphasized that the two territories are becoming increasingly integrated with China, and the CCP has been using a "population cleansing" strategy to move large numbers of Chinese nationals into them. Given these changes, the official said the current policy allowing Hong Kong and Macau residents to apply for permanent residency after just one year of residence needs to be adjusted.
The proposed amendments bring residency requirements for Hong Kong and Macau residents in line with other foreign nationals, extending the one-year residency requirement to four years before they can apply for permanent residency. Currently, spouses from China must reside in Taiwan for six years before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residency.
Another change under consideration is removing the path to citizenship for people from Hong Kong and Macau with long-term residency. Under the proposed changes, a new long-term residency category would be created for residents from these two territories, similar to permanent residency without a path to obtain household registration, a Taiwan ID, or voting rights.
