Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/30
By: Flor Wang and Gu Chuan, Wang Yang-yu and Cheng Chi-fon

Taipei, Aug. 30 (CNA) Political leaders in Taiwan voiced grave concern and urged dialogue following

the arrest of several pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong on Friday, ahead of a rally planned for the next day which the police have banned for the first time since protests started 13 weeks ago.

"The current situation in Hong Kong is indeed worrisome, and it reminds us of how precious democracy and freedom are," President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said in a message in a LINE group chat.

Stressing that the Presidential Office is highly concerned about the situation in Hong Kong, Presidential Office spokesman Ting Yun-kung (丁允恭) said "what Hong Kong needs now is dialogue, not suppression or arrests."

He urged Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to adhere to their promise to maintain democracy and human rights in Hong Kong based on the rule of law.    [FULL  STORY]