More Hongkongers Opt for Taiwan, and Ineffective Covid Lockdowns

In 2020 almost double the number of HKers emigrated to Taiwan

 

The number of Hongkongers who have emigrated to Taiwan has hit a three-decade high following the implementation of the national security law in late June.

Last year there were 10,813 Hongkongers who obtained resident permits in Taiwan, almost double the 5,858 in 2019, Bloomberg news reported, citing figures from Taiwan's Immigration Agency.

Some 10,000 are applying for Taiwan visas

The figure for 2020 was the highest since 1991, when Taiwan started compiling the data, the report said.

It is also more than the 7,506 people from Hong Kong and Macau who obtained Taiwan resident permits in 2014, during the Occupy Central protests.

From 2016 to 2018, about 4,000 Hongkongers acquired Taiwan resident permits every year.

Jason Yu, an immigration consultant, reports receiving 30 online enquiries per day, and more than 10,000 Hongkongers apply for dependent visas to live in Taiwan.

It's not a trickle, is a very steady stream that's increasing. And that's just Taiwan.

Meanwhile Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is flexing her muscles in a bid to get Hong Kong down to zero cases through aggressive lockdowns.

There are three happening tonight in Chai Wan, Tuen Mun and Tokwawan. 

Aggressive lockdowns have yielded no cases

These strict exercises lockdown an area, test everyone in the affected buildings and keep them overnight until their results are completed, but so far hardly any cases have been detected.

While the lockdowns to test everyone are well meaning, they are not rooting out the supposed asymptomatic cases that are supposedly spreading the virus. The government is even looking into breaking down the doors to flats of those who refuse to get tested.

In the meantime it was announced that some outdoor sports venues will reopen from Thursday, including running tracks, tennis courts, cycling parks and outdoor table tennis and badminton facilities.

Schools are also talking about testing teachers every two weeks and having students come in for half days.

So while the government is being militaristic in fighting the virus, its residents are somewhat compliant, but aren't that impressed. 

One man in a salon had to get tested for Covid-19

The restaurant and bar industry are pushing to loosen restrictions in time for Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day, but will the government listen to them? Many restaurants and bars are saying they can barely stay alive now, but is now the time to lift restrictions just because of some significant cultural dates?

It's a tough call, but everyone is eager for some kind of normalcy, but again that can't happen if not everyone is on board with getting a vaccine...