President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan will provide Hong Kong people with "necessary assistance" after Beijing proposed new national security legislation on the former British colony.

Tsai made this offer in Chinese on her Facebook page on Sunday, May 24.

It came after thousands of Hongkongers returned to protesting on the streets on Sunday, following the announcement out of China to impose national security laws on Hong Kong.

Hong Kong police retaliated by firing tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters.

Threat to Hong Kong freedom

The Hong Kong protests have won widespread sympathy in Taiwan.

Tsai said the proposed legislation was a serious threat to Hong Kong's freedoms and judicial independence.

She added that bullets and repression are not the way to deal with the aspirations of Hong Kong's people for freedom and democracy.

A small but growing number of protesters fleeing Hong Kong since last year, when widespread protests have occurred, have ended up in Taiwan.

"In face of the changing situation, the international community has proactively stretched out a helping hand to Hong Kong's people," Tsai wrote.

Taiwan will "even more proactively perfect and forge ahead with relevant support work, and provide Hong Kong's people with necessary assistance", she wrote.

Taiwan laws do promise to help Hong Kong citizens whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons.

This is despite Taiwan not having a law on refugees that could be applied to Hong Kong protesters who seek asylum on the island.

Taiwan and China ties worsen

Already poor ties between Taipei and Beijing have worsened as a result of the support for the protesters by Tsai and her administration.

China has accused Hong Kong protesters with colluding with supporters of Taiwan independence.

China has branded Tsai a "separatist" bent on declaring the island's formal independence.

Tsai says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China.

Top photo via Tsai Ing-wen