Soon, it will be easier than ever before for residents of Hong Kong and Macau to resettle in Taiwan to work. Under plans by Taiwan’s Ministry for the Interior, residents from both territories will be allowed to apply for full citizenship after five consecutive years of living and working in Taiwan—this, depending on fulfilling certain requirements.
It comes at a time when the island is struggling to retain key talent. Higher wages in other countries, as well as the cultural roadblocks to recent innovation, have seen high-skilled workers grab attractive opportunities overseas, which is leaving an increasing gap in the local workforce.
The proposal, which is yet to be approved by the Executive Yuan and Ministry of Economic Affairs, seeks to lay one foundation to reverse this trend. It aims to improve incentives for entrepreneurs to come to Taiwan as combing international and local resources is vital for creative and active business, and fundamental to build momentum for economic growth. By drawing upon the increasingly frustrated and overworked employees of Hong Kong, it is hoped that their expertise can play a crucial role in making the island competitive again.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
