the Number of persons who have been granted a residence permit in Taiwan, has increased by almost 30 percent in a half year.

the Protests, which have paralyzed Hong kong for nearly six months, has driven several of the city's inhabitants to search for a new life abroad. And many have turned towards the nearby democratic Taiwan in order to escape uncertainty at home.

Thus, the number of persons who have been assigned to the short-lived and permanent residency in Taiwan, increased by almost 30 percent to 4000 between January and september this year compared with the same period last year.

at the same time, the investment from Hong kong almost doubled.

Leonardo Wong was on a visit in the sydtaiwanske city of Kaohsiung last month to look for a good place for his new restaurant, which he plans to open when he moves to the island for January.

- Hong kong is no longer safe. You don't know what will happen tomorrow. There are too many external forces that can change the direction in which things are going, says the 27-year-old Wong.

- It feels like that things can not go back to before. We can not see the future of Hong kong is moving towards, he says.

Taiwan does not recognise the legal concept of asylum, as that country does not accept refugees. But hongkongere can apply for to stay on the island in various ways, including through a investeringsvisum.

The former systems analyst Chow Chung-ming achieved recently issued a residence permit in Taiwan by means of a system that requires an investment of six million taiwanese dollar - good 1.3 million Danish kroner.

The 41-year-old has moved to Kaohsiung, where he was attracted by among other things, lower rent. It has helped him to realize a childhood dream to open a kattecafé.

- In Taiwan there is freedom of expression. People can even choose their president and their politicians. It is rights, as hongkongere not have, and I see no chance that they ever get it, he says.

the Demonstrations in Hong kong began in June as a result of a controversial draft law on Nakitbahis the extradition of citizens for prosecution in China. The proposal has since been dropped

/ritzau/AFP