TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwanese officers in Hong Kong have been told their visas will not be renewed until they sign a doc supporting Beijing’s claim to Taiwan below its “one China” coverage, a man or woman with immediate information of the make any difference advised Reuters.

The move comes following Taipei criticised a new safety legislation imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing, and opened an workplace in Taipei this month to aid folks who may well want to depart the Asian money centre.

Numerous Taiwanese officers at its de facto Hong Kong consulate who were being owing to renew their visas have been requested by the city’s government to signal the doc, a senior Taiwan formal with information of the matter advised Reuters.

The formal mentioned the move was unparalleled and introduced an “unnecessary political obstacle” for Taipei-Hong Kong ties.

“They won’t challenge the visa if we really do not indication the doc,” the official said, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. “It’s entirely a dilemma designed by them.”

“We will test our finest to defend our stance. Our representatives in Hong Kong will maintain speedy to their situation.”

The Hong Kong Immigration Department mentioned it would not remark on specific cases, but added that it acts in accordance with the pertinent legislation and insurance policies when handling every single application.

Taiwan’s China policy-creating Mainland Affairs Council urged Hong Kong to return to “existing consensus” to maintain normal exchanges in between Taiwan and Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong should really follow mutual agreements to assure the workplace is cost-free from political interference, and really should not build needless obstacles over and above individuals agreements,” it claimed in a statement to Reuters.

Taiwan has 15 Taiwanese personnel at its de facto consulate in the town, another person with information of the make a difference stated.

China sees Taiwan as aspect of “one China” and has never renounced the use of power to provide the island under its control.

China has proposed that Taiwan be brought below Chinese rule below a related “one region two systems” arrangement it supplied to Hong Kong. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen rejects the proposal, which she calls a “failure”.

The resource declined to say specifically how numerous Taiwan officials were asked to indication the paper but mentioned its acting chief, Kao Ming-tsun, experienced returned to the island late on Thursday right after he refused to indication the doc on his visa renewal.

Reuters was not immediately able to access Kao for comment.

Kao’s return to Taiwan owing to the political spat was initial described by Taiwan on-line publication Up Media.

Taiwan declared this week it will increase scrutiny about financial commitment from Hong Kong to reduce illicit dollars from mainland China, times soon after Reuters reported the go.

Hong Kong has long served as an essential trade and investment conduit in between Taiwan and China, which have no diplomatic relations.

Hong Kong’s new stability legislation punishes what China broadly defines as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with international forces with up to lifetime in jail.

Critics of the legislation dread it will crush the extensive-ranging freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, when supporters say it will carry security to the metropolis immediately after a year of at times violent anti-govt protests.