Government proactively assists students unable to return to Taiwan to attend school

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     Taiwan authorities announced yesterday afternoon (February 10) that with effect from midnight today (February 11), the entry of Hong Kong and Macao residents to Taiwan would be temporarily suspended, and a number of Hong Kong students currently studying in Taiwan are unable to return to Taiwan in time. A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said today that the Government attaches high importance to the matter and immediately took a series of measures to assist the affected students.

     The spokesman said that the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (HKETCO) in Taipei took immediate action to contact an airline yesterday, requesting it to render assistance as far as possible to Hong Kong students who wished to return to Taiwan at that time to continue their studies. It is understood that the airline tried its best to allocate seats on its existing flights to cater for the needs of Hong Kong students.

     The spokesman said, "The Education Bureau has set up a hotline at 2891 0088 (press 1 and 7 after choosing the language) to provide assistance to the affected students. The hotline operates from 8.30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Monday through Friday. They can also contact the bureau via email at edbinfo@edb.gov.hk. Students and parents can provide their case details and contact information to the bureau, which will render assistance to them as far as practicable.

     "We have also liaised with the Taiwan side through the platform of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Promotion Council and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council, and appealed to the Taiwan side to offer as much assistance to the affected Hong Kong students as possible."

     Furthermore, the HKETCO has contacted a number of Hong Kong students currently in Taiwan, as well as Hong Kong and Macao student bodies and non-governmental organisations serving Hong Kong and Macao students in Taiwan, and has set up a 24-hour hotline (+886 963 660 632) to proactively provide practicable assistance to students who are already in Taiwan and are undergoing the required quarantine at student quarters or at home.

     The HKSAR Government will continue to closely monitor and follow up on the issue. Hong Kong students studying in Taiwan are advised to pay attention to announcements made in Taiwan and to contact their respective schools to make necessary arrangements.

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