Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is calling on Beijing to keep its promise to allow the people of Hong Kong to determine the timetable for universal suffrage.
The MAC is Taiwan’s top China-policy maker. It made the comments in a press conference on Wednesday in response to the protests in Hong Kong. On Tuesday the Hong Kong police arrested over 500 protesters who were calling for real democracy. MAC spokeswoman Wu Mei-hung said Beijing and the Hong Kong government should tolerate different opinions and respond to the people.
"A consensus should be forged in Hong Kong to implement democratic universal suffrage. Mainland China should keep its promise to Hong Kong," said Wu. "There should also be respect for and protection of freedom and human rights. Our government and the international community will continue to pay attention to the democratic development of Hong Kong," she said.