Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Hong Kong Political Refugees Eye Taiwan, But Are Speedboats the Solution?

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Hong Kong political activists reportedly fleeing
   toward Taiwan by speedboat have put Taiwanese aid agencies and
   organizations in a bind over how to offer support --both parties want
   to resist China-- despite a ban on illegal entry and the absence of a
   legal guarantee of asylum, lawmakers and experts say.

   China wants to unite with a reluctant, self-ruled Taiwan and bring
   under control Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters, who have run up
   against police as well as a new security law during the past year.
   Concerns of a continued crackdown has motivated some Hong Kong
   activists to flee.

   In July, Taiwanese news outlet China Times said Taiwan's coast guard
   had stopped a boat carrying five Hong Kong political activists.
   Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council would not comment Monday on the case
   but said the government had a "humanitarian mechanism" in place.

   Last month another Hong Kong speedboat, with 12 aboard, was stopped by
   Chinese maritime authorities while it was apparently heading toward
   Taiwan, the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong said.

   Of the Hong Kong people granted residency in Taiwan since January 2019,
   none came illegally by sea, Taiwanese ruling party legislator Lo
   Chih-cheng said. Weather makes crossing the Taiwan Strait risky in a
   small craft, he said, and the coast guard is sure to spot any intruding
   boat.

   If they reach land, though, help isn't far off. Nongovernmental groups
   in Taipei have aided other political refugee seekers since June 2019,
   when Hong Kong's mass anti-China protests erupted.

   "I think Taiwan hopes that free world countries including Taiwan will
   do their most to help persecuted Hong Kong citizens, but when doing
   this we don't need to beat a big drum and don't even need to put
   government in the lead," Taiwanese ruling party lawmaker Wang Ting-yu
   said in an interview September 10 with VOA.

   Other Hong Kong activists have already reached Taiwan through
   "unofficial" channels, Wang said, and sometimes with help from entities
   Taiwan. Those supporters encourage activists to come safely and without
   compromising Taiwan's own security, he said. They are vetted as well to
   ensure they are political victims, he said.

   Some nonprofits doing this kind of work are "putting themselves in
   danger," Wang said.

   Wang would not specify the channels used, the entities involved or the
   vetting process for fear of tipping off Chinese officials.

   Hong Kong political activists are particularly considering Taiwan now
   because the June 30 Hong Kong national security law allows for life
   prison sentences for the more severe crimes associated with the street
   protests. China has administered Hong Kong, a former British colony,
   since 1997.

.