Taiwan tightens curbs on HK residents, stops visas

Taipei says the new measures are in response to the worsening coronavirus situation in Guangdong province. File photo: AFP

Taiwan has announced it will stop issuing visas to Hong Kong and Macau passport holders from Friday, imposing a virtual ban on people from the two SARs over the new coronavirus outbreak raging across China.



The move comes just a day after Taipei said visitors from the two cities could still travel to the island, but would be put under home quarantine for 14 days.



Foreigners who have visited Hong Kong recently, or live in the SAR, are also banned from entering Taiwan, officials had said on Wednesday.



The island's Central Epidemic Command Centre said on Thursday that since the coronavirus situation is worsening in Guangdong province, neighbouring Hong Kong and Macau, the new measures are needed to safeguard public health in Taiwan.



Health officials said residents of the two SARs who have residency in Taiwan can still travel there, but they will have go into home quarantine for 14 days.



Anyone who needs to enter Taiwan for a special reason can apply in person at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, but must provide officials with records to show they have not been on the mainland in the previous 14 days.