The government of Taiwan is contemplating changes to its citizenship rules for people from Hong Kong and Macau. Under the new changes, they will no longer have an easy way to become citizens. The time needed to qualify for permanent residency will also increase from one year to four years. This proposed change is part of a national security effort to stop the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from using immigration to influence Taiwan.

An official, speaking anonymously to the newspaper, pointed out that the relaxed immigration rules for these regions have created a major national security risk, especially after the National Security Law was introduced in Hong Kong in 2020. Under the new rules, residents of Hong Kong and Macau will need to live in Taiwan for four years before they can apply for permanent residency. Additionally, they will no longer be able to apply for citizenship after getting permanent residency. This change comes in response to the growing migration from mainland China to Hong Kong since the 1997 handover, with over two million people having moved there. 

Residency applications from those with connections to the Chinese military, the CCP, or government agencies would also be subject to more examination and might be rejected. The source stressed that because of changes in the policies and governance of Hong Kong and Macau, the initial rationale for allowing residency for those residents is no longer applicable. The proposed regulations would give residents of Hong Kong and Macau the same residency requirements as citizens of other nations, but they would still be more lenient than those of mainland China, where applicants must wait six years before submitting an application for a national ID card.

Officials stated that many migrants from Hong Kong and Macau are not very interested in becoming citizens of the Republic of China. Instead, they prefer to have permanent residency. The government will review the proposal and discuss it with Hong Kong groups in Taiwan before making any changes.