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A Government spokesman today (November 28) said that according to information obtained by the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan, it is necessary to clarify some recent media reports on the number of Hong Kong residents emigrating to Taiwan.
"Contrary to reports that there was a marked increase in the number of Hong Kong emigrants to Taiwan, information published by the immigration authority in Taiwan showed that the number of approved applications for registered permanent residence by Hong Kong and Macao residents from January to September 2013 was 486, a 14 per cent decrease from the same period in 2012 (567)," the spokesman said.
"The above should be distinguished from applications for residence, which include entry applications for work or study, not for permanent residence. The number of applications for residence from Hong Kong and Macao residents shot up in September 2012 and 2013 respectively, the start of the academic year, which suggests that the bulk of these applications were for the purpose of study."
Ends/Thursday, November 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:37
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