Number of people migrating from Hong Kong to Taiwan reaches 20-year high as political disputes continue

An increasing number of Hong Kong people immigrating to Taiwan has been recorded. Up to 7,498 immigration applications from Hong Kong and Macau residents were received and approved last year, in which 2,832 applicants were Hong Kong students due to study in Taiwan, reaching a 20-year peak, Taiwan authority revealed.

Some Hong Kong emigrants claimed the continuing political disputes in Hong Kong to be one of the factors for the emigration, amongst the favourable immigration policy of Taiwan and the comparable living standard between Taiwan and Hong Kong.

"There are too much political disputes in Hong Kong," the 58-year-old Hong Kong emigrant said, "I wish to have a more peaceful living environment."

Another former Hong Kong resident, Hair stylist Tony, claimed that the living standard in Hong Kong is too high when compared to Taiwan. Designer Ms. Ko indicated that she preferred the culture and moral standard in Taiwan over Hong Kong; the cost of living is also lower in Taiwan.

As revealed by an immigration consultant agent in Hong Kong, the inquiries for emigrating to Taiwan has boosted, and the number of applications received last year has doubled that of the year before. He believed the not-so-high immigration requirement is one of the reasons accounting for the Hong Kong people's preference for Taiwan as immigration destination.

[Source: Sky Post, Hong Kong]