Hong Kong immigrants hope for more support through Taiwan election

Running for political office in Taiwan was never the plan for 72-year-old Hong Kong immigrant Chui Pak-tai, but the former pro-democracy district councilor in the former British colony hopes to put the Hong Kong issue back onto the Taiwan public agenda.

During Taiwan's last presidential election, in 2020, protests against the Hong Kong government's proposal to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance which critics said would allow Hong Kongers to be sent to China for trial dominated the campaign. Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party doubled down on the need to support Hong Kongers and the slogan "Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow Taiwan" was widely featured throughout the campaign.