The head of Hong Kong’s Taiwan exchange organization has arrived in Taiwan on personal business, although his expected visit to the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has stoked speculation of a coming thaw in Taiwan-Hong Kong relations.
The MAC yesterday confirmed that Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) Chairman David Lie (李大壯) and his wife arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday to visit her parents.
It did not confirm reports that he plans to visit the council, but said it “welcomes Chairman Lie if he intends to visit.”
The ECCPC was founded in 2010 to represent the Hong Kong government
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HK office’s future unclear as visas run out
‘PROXY MECHANISM’: The MAC said that eight Taiwanese officials at the TECO had applied for renewals with HK authorities, but no positive response had yet arrived
Staff writer, with CNA
Visas of all remaining Taiwanese personnel at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Hong Kong are to expire before the end of this year, raising concerns that its operations will be seriously affected.
During a legislative session on Monday, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said that there are eight Taiwanese officials remaining at the TECO.
However, the office has activated a “proxy mechanism” so that there will be no leadership vacuum in its departments, Chiu said.
All Taiwanese officials in Hong Kong could be forced home this year
05/10/2021 08:50 PM
CNA photo May 10, 2021
Taipei, May 10 (CNA) Visas of all remaining Taiwanese officials at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Hong Kong will expire within this year, raising concerns that the operation of the consular-level office that represents Taiwan s interests in the special administrative region will be seriously affected.
During a legislative session on Monday, Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正), spokesman of Taiwan s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), told legislators that there are currently only eight Taiwanese officials remaining in the Hong Kong TECO and that the validity of their visas will only last until year s end.