Taiwan
A once-thriving coal mining town in Taiwan has reinvented itself as a tourist attraction and home to over 100 feline residents. Houtong, in Ruifang – west of the capital Taipei – was originally called “monkey cave.” During the 20th century, the area led Taiwan’s coal production – with 220,000 tons clawed from the earth each year. It spurred a population boom peaking at around 6,000. But young residents emigrated as the industry faded in the 1990s, leaving fewer than 100 villagers as the job market dried up. That was until 2008, when a local resident and photographer – Peggy Chien – began to ta...
Hong Kong Free Press
Taiwan has vowed to remove 760 remaining statues of its late martial law-era leader Chiang Kai-shek, despite criticism that such moves “erase” the past. See also: HKFP Lens: Symbols of savagery or tributes to founder figure? Taiwan ponders fate of Chiang Kai-shek statues The island has long been divided over how – if at all – to commemorate Chaing. Whilst he helped defeat the invading Japanese in World War II, fought Mao Zedong’s communists, and built modern Taiwan, he also ruled it with an iron fist for decades. During a 1947 crackdown, at least 18,000 people were killed on Chiang’s watch, wh...
Hong Kong Free Press
A student protester must be able to chant slogans with an air of certainty. A pragmatic legislator has to navigate the ambiguities of politics. Lin Fei-fan has managed to do both. Lin, a former leader of Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement, has been deputy-secretary general of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) since 2019. The DPP in January won an unprecedented third presidential term, and despite its activist origins now represents the establishment. Like many DPP politicians, Lin has been fiercely criticised by Beijing. “I just learnt that the Taiwan Affairs Office said I was harming Taiwan,” h...
Hong Kong Free Press
The mercury rose to 31.5 degrees Celsius in Hong Kong on Sunday – the highest temperature recorded in March since records began in 1884. The Observatory warned on Sunday that “[u]nder the persistent influence of a southerly airstream and plenty of sunshine, the weather will still be hot” on Monday. “The maximum temperature will be around 31 degrees in the urban areas.” The week will start off hot and dry, with rain expected into the weekend, the Observatory says. Meanwhile, Taiwan also saw unprecedented heat on Sunday. According to the Central Weather Administration, highs of 36 degrees Celsiu...
Hong Kong Free Press
In May 2023, signs indicating the location of the nearest air defence shelter popped up across Taiwan. These red arrows, many pointing to a basement or a building’s parking lot, are designed to let people know where to seek refuge in case of an air raid. Taiwan has more than 90,000 shelters, but critics say they lack sufficient ventilation, air conditioning and water. This could be dangerous over an extended period. In a notorious episode in the mainland Chinese city of Chongqing, in 1941, tens of thousands of people crowded into a tunnel to escape Japanese bombs. three hours of bombing by the...
Hong Kong Free Press
These days, many Hongkongers speak of migration; perhaps they are planning a move, or know people who have already left. In 2023, Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu said that the city had lost 200,000 from its workforce in recent years, a shortage he said he hoped to address by attracting foreign talent and importing labour. When Hongkongers do choose to leave their hometown, many opt for the United Kingdom or Canada. Taiwan, too, is a top choice. Compared with Western countries, Taiwan and Hong Kong share traditional Chinese characters, culture and food. These elements can make Hongkongers feel more...
Hong Kong Free Press
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