Whether former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should be allowed to visit Hong Kong next week is a highly difficult issue requiring political judgement, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Lin Cheng-yi (林正義) said yesterday, expressing confidence that Ma would not act against the Presidential Office’s pending decision.
Lin made the remarks at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, which discussed the potential impact of recent developments in East Asia on Taiwan and relevant countermeasures.
Fielding questions from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳), Lin said Ma’s application to make a one-day visit to Hong Kong on Wednesday is still being deliberated in accordance with the National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法).
The Presidential Office, the National Security Council and the Ministry of Justice are reviewing the application, Lin said.
“This is a highly difficult issue that requires political judgement and the process must be well-rounded,” Lin said, in response to Liu’s question about whether the government is leaning toward approving the application or rejecting it.
Lin said while President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration is still getting on track, he believes that government agencies would not wait until the last minute to If Ma is allowed to go, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong would ensure the dignity and security of the former president, he said.
“If Tsai’s government turns down Ma’s application, will Ma act against the decision and insist on going?” the lawmaker asked. “He certainly seems to have his mind set on going.”
Lin said he believes, as the former head of state for eight years, Ma should be fully aware of the law and the political sensitivity of the issue.
Ma is scheduled to attend the Society of Publishers in Asia Awards for Editorial Excellence ceremony, which is to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. He is due to give a speech in English on cross-strait relations and developments in East Asia at the event.
However, Ma is required by the National Security Information Protection Act to obtain the approval of the government body he used to work for at least 20 days before departing on an international trip within three years after leaving office.
Separately, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said he did not rule out any possible outcomes before government agencies complete their evaluation of the application.
“As the government body where Ma used to work, the office does not have a fixed position or any inclinations on the matter,” Huang said.
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