Date: July 7, 2020
MAC Press Release No. 39
The Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (hereinafter as “the implementation rules”) were announced by the Hong Kong government on July 6, 2020 and entered into force today (July 7, 2020). The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed strong dissatisfaction and condemned the implementation rules as well as attempts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to change the status quo in Hong Kong and block exchanges between the international community and Hong Kong.
The implementation rules were vaguely defined, excessive, and extremely disrespectful and unfriendly to Taiwanese political parties, civic groups, as well as institutions and persons stationed in Hong Kong that have long engaged in civic exchanges and services in Hong Kong. In addition to alarming Taiwanese people in Hong Kong, the implementation rules stifled normal exchanges and interaction between Taiwan and Hong Kong. They were an infinite power expansion of an autocratic regime to censor people’s thoughts. MAC was stunned by such a development and also solemnly warned both the Beijing authorities and the Hong Kong government to not cross the line of violating human rights and infringing the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwanese groups and institutions in Hong Kong.
Taiwan has repeatedly expressed its concern over the situation in Hong Kong, but has never intervened. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong (hereinafter “the representative office”) was established through an exchange of letters between Taiwan and Hong Kong to provide civic exchanges and services to the people on the both sides. The representative office has since then acted in compliance with the standing agreement reached between the two sides over the past many years. Hong Kong should guarantee that the representative office would not be subject to any political interference as stipulated in the aforementioned agreement. Related parties should not undermine Taiwan-Hong Kong and cross-Strait relations by overstating the situation or acting rashly.
The government of the Republic of China would further clarify the scope of the law and consult legal advices on the matter. Taiwan would also continue to cooperate with other countries and take every possible action to guarantee the due rights, freedom, and safety of Taiwanese institutions and people in Hong Kong.