The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday urged Hong Kong authorities to rectify the name of Taiwan’s representative office in the territory, saying doing so would be an indicator of improved bilateral ties.
James Chu (朱曦), director of the council’s Department of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs, said Taiwan’s representative office — known as the Chung Hwa Travel Service — did not reflect its -genuine -functions, adding that Taiwanese had long hoped for a change in name.
“It would be an important indicator of whether relations between Taiwan and Hong Kong have improved,” he said.
Chu made the comments during his opening remarks at an international forum in Taipei. The event was part of a series of activities surrounding the 20th anniversary of the founding of the council next year. It was organized by the council, the Friends of Hong Kong and Macao Association, the Graduate Institute of China Studies at Tamkang University, Fu Hsing Radio Station and Radio Taiwan International.
Chu said Hong Kong and Taiwan had established economic and cultural cooperation associations this year, which held their first joint meeting in August.
While the Hong Kong government promised to upgrade the function and status of Taiwan’s representative office and to consider granting Taiwanese visa-free entry, Chu said it also hoped to establish a multifunction office in Taiwan and an office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Chu said the council welcomed the two proposals and hoped they would become operational as soon as the applications were approved.
Chu said Macau had made a similar proposal and he hoped it would become a reality as soon as possible.
Taiwan and Macao are also studying the possibility of recognizing each other’s educational credentials, he said.
Chen Sung-shan (陳淞山), manager of former president Chen Shu-bian’s (陳水扁) office and a former board member of the Friends of Hong Kong and Macao Association, said one thing the Hong Kong government could do to improve bilateral ties was to stop blacklisting Taiwanese or stalling the issuing of work visas to certain individuals.
“Hong Kong and Macau should develop direct contact with Taiwan rather than let Beijing dictate their exchanges,” he said.
Chen said the problems of rectifying the name of Chung Hwa Travel Service and offering visa-waiver privileges to Taiwanese should be resolved within six months.
He also urged the Hong Kong government to relax regulations, including allowing mayors of the five special municipalities to visit the territory next year and chief executives of Hong Kong and Macau should be able to visit Taiwan next year, he said.
David Lee (李大壯), vice chairperson of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Promotion Council, said the Hong Kong government was studying the possibility of changing the name of Chung Hwa Travel Service and granting Taiwanese tourists visa-free entry.
However, this would have to comply with the “one China” principle and Hong Kong laws, he said.
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