Taiwan revises regulations to attract int’l civil organisations

Taiwan on Wednesday announced newly revised regulations aimed at attracting more international civil organisations to set up branches there through simplified registration with more flexibility.

The Taiwan Ministry of Interior said in a statement that the revision of related regulations for the first time in 30 years, aims to significantly simplify the registration procedures.

The revision also added rules for the registration of liaison offices for civil groups based in both Hong Kong and Macau.

However, for the sake of national security, the related regulations stipulate that organisations in both Hong Kong and Macau established by Chinese groups are still prohibited from setting up branches in Taiwan.

The ministry said that the revision would help to expand Taiwan’s soft power of citizen diplomacy and create a friendly environment for international connections.

“Under the new regulations, reports to local police units are no longer required in a bid to ensure freedom of association.

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“This was also in the spirit of both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,’’ the ministry said.

Government statistics show that Taiwan issued about 108,000 residence permits to people from Hong Kong in 2020 when Beijing gradually tightened its control thereafter a series of pro-democracy protests carried out.

Currently, in Taiwan, a number of Hong Kong exiles living in different cities have jointly worked with some Taiwanese civic rights groups supporting Hong Kong’s democracy to keep highlighting their pursuit of democracy and freedom.