Taiwan would provide humanitarian assistance to Hong Kongers in Taiwan who are in need and look to the government for help, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, adding that the government hoped the territory would soon be restored to tranquility as it strives for freedom and democracy.
The Mainland Affairs Council would announce the details, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) told a news conference in Taipei.
The ministry is closely watching the situation, and it regrets and is concerned over the protest being labeled “terrorism,” she said.
Photo: Chen En-hui, Taipei Times
Chinese State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office spokesman Yang Guang (楊光) on Monday said that “sprouts of terrorism” were emerging in Hong Kong, as “protesters have been frequently using extremely dangerous tools to attack the police in recent days, constituting serious crimes,” adding that the authorities would crack down on violent criminals.
Ou said that Taiwan was calling on the Hong Kong government to listen to its people’s appeals and try to realize the crux of the problem, adding that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has said that suppressing protesters with violence cannot solve the problem.
Taiwan continues to work with like-minded nations to defend global democracy, and remains firm in its support of Hong Kongers in their struggles for freedom, democracy and human rights, Ou added.
The Chinese-language media outlet Credere Media (信傳媒) on Monday reported that the number of Hong Kongers applying for residence or short-stay permits in Taiwan has soared since the protests erupted in June.
Ministry of the Interior data showed that 681 applications had been filed, of which 636 were approved, Credere Media said.
The number of June applicants was 55.49 percent higher than last year, while the number last month was 39.66 percent higher than a year earlier, it said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old