Hong Kongers' exodus to Taiwan slows amid infiltration fears

Once a popular refuge, island's 'forever changing' immigration laws are causing some to feel unwelcome

- Yip Wai Yee

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - There are signs of Hong Kong everywhere in one shaved ice dessert shop in the central Taiwanese city of Taichung.

Among the most prominent is the one at the entrance - a poster of the documentary Revolution Of Our Times, which centres around Hong Kong's 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Mementoes like this serve as a reminder of home for the Hong Kong-born owner of the shop, Ms Sandy Lee, who moved to Taiwan in early 2022 in response to Beijing's imposition of a sweeping national security law that has been used to crack down on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

"I had to leave Hong Kong because I no longer felt safe living there. We've lost so many freedoms," the 41-year-old said tearfully.

Hong Kong has witnessed an exodus of residents in recent years over what they see as an erosion of democratic norms in their city, with an estimated 200,000 leaving from 2019 to 2022. For some, their government's zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19 was another push factor.

Taiwan became a popular choice for many Hong Kongers seeking refuge elsewhere, given its geographical proximity and lower cost of living. Linguistically and culturally, the two territories also share similarities.

"Let's not forget about Taiwan's reputation as a freedom island," Ms Lee said. "We shouldn't take its democratic values for granted." But the influx of Hong Kongers into Taiwan is slowing.

After 11,173 Hong Kongers received permits to live in Taiwan in 2021 a record high in official data dating to 1991 - the figure dropped by 20 per cent to 8,945 in 2022, although this is still at least 50 per cent more than the average yearly number seen before 2020.