Taiwan （ROC） President Ma Ying-jeou comments at World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce event on Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong
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Over the past few days, the situation in Hong Kong has attracted worldwide attention. The government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) are deeply concerned about recent developments, and I would like to take this opportunity to express our views and expectations.
Taiwan has had universal suffrage for some time, and each time we hold elections many of our Hong Kong friends come to Taiwan to observe the proceedings. We fully understand and support the Hong Kong people’s demand for universal suffrage.
As Hong Kong is an extremely important global financial center, any political turmoil that occurs there will impact not only Asia but the entire world. We therefore call on the mainland Chinese authorities to listen carefully to the demands of the Hong Kong people and adopt a peaceful and cautious approach to the current situation. At the same time, we urge Hong Kong residents to express their views in a peaceful and rational manner. We do not wish to see any conflicts.
Observers outside Hong Kong hope that it will gradually move toward democracy. We believe that, if a system of universal suffrage can be realized there, both Hong Kong itself as well as mainland China would benefit.
