Taiwan offers help for Hong Kong protesters seeking sanctuary

The government of Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-wen, says it would provide assistance to protesters, who are seeking sanctuary after fleeing to the self-ruled island, due to their involvement, earlier this month, in the occupation of the Hong Kong parliament.

In a controversial move, which is most likely to infuriate China, Taipei said in a statement on Friday that it “can provide necessary assistance to Hong Kong residents whose safety and freedom are in urgent danger due to political reasons.”

Over 30 Hong Kong residents have arrived in Taiwan in a bid to escape prosecution for their involvement in violent protests, which led to the ransacking of the city’s legislature on July 1.

Taiwan's president Ing-wen added her support for such a move.

Tsai, who is seeking a second term in office after the forthcoming election in January, also expressed support for the move.

"These friends from Hong Kong will be treated in an appropriate way on humanitarian grounds," she said during a visit to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.

She was scheduled to spend two nights in the United States during her trip, from July 11 to 22, to visit Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies in the Caribbean.

Hong Kong has been the scene of violent protests for weeks, over an amendment to the city’s law, which would have allowed extradition to mainland China.

SS