Hong Kong film producer Heung, son denied Taiwan residency permits

Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said Thursday it had rejected applications by Hong Kong actor and film producer Charles Heung (向華強) and his adult son for residence in Taiwan.

Heung and his eldest son, actor Jacky Heung (向佐), had applied late last year for resident permits, based on their relationship to Heung's Taiwanese wife Tiffany Chen (陳嵐), according to authorities.

In a statement to the media on Thursday, the NIA said it had reviewed the applications and decided to not to grant Heung and his son residency permits, based on a section of the immigration law pertaining to residents of Hong Kong and Macau.

Article 22 of the law lists a number of reasons for rejecting an application, ranging from incomplete paperwork to the risk of the applicants "harming national interests" or their involvement in entities related to the Chinese government.

The language on China, which was added to the article last August, specifically rules out applicants who are current or former Chinese government, military or party officials, as well as those with a background in China-connected investment and media organizations.

In its statement on the Heungs, the NIA did not cite the specific grounds on which the applications were rejected.

The family, however, is known to have expressed support publicly for the controversial National Security Law that China imposed in Hong Kong last year. Chen has written newspaper articles criticizing Hong Kong's anti-extradition protests, while Jacky Heung is said to be a member of a youth organization under the Chinese Communist Party.

Charles Heung, 72, founded the film studios Win's Entertainment and China Star Entertainment Group and has produced movies starring Jet Li (李連杰), Andy Lau (劉德華), and other famous actors.