I’ve been to Hong Kong it is relative easy for a foreigner to get a job, I’ve known a lot of mainland Chinese students are expatriats without an ID, as long as they satisfy the job requirements, the company will proceed a working visa for them. This is different case in Taiwan, strict labour laws, complicated procedures, employers unwilliness to employ someone without an ID, I bet there are a lot of foreingers with high degrees teaching here or working in lack of career progression jobs, no wonder Taiwan is not a international competitive city compared to Hong Kong or Singapore. Taiwan is just a small island singled out by China or the rest of the world, laws are really strict and protective, even stricter than China in terms of employment, China is now opening up to attract foreign specialists.
Aside from Hong Kong offering a more favorable business environment for companies (low to zero taxes), it is not really fair to compare either city to Taiwan because they are only cities. If Taiwan was the size and population of Taipei and Taipei County it could follow the city-state design, but the reality is Taiwan is a country (despite the recognition confusion) and there are many more moving parts involved. Comparisons with Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand are more apt, despite the 4 Tigers distinction.
Former British colonies.
Please, the title, please!
British colonialism definitely has a lot to do with it. 
But, it is way too complicated to just say “look over there! They are way better than us!” Especially with small city states as Number Two 
has just stated.
The title of this thread should rather be “Taiwan needs labor reform… [as to not be worst than Hong Kong 
]”
There is a great editorial from the Taipei Times last month that basically reflects the core of this thread. Taiwan doesn’t just suffer due to its poor ability/willingness to attract foreign talent, it is also losing its own top ‘Brains’ to foreign countries that will pay them what they deserve.
The best economies are built on the backs of the best people with the best ideas making the best salaries and educated at the best universities. America has known this for a long long time and benefits better than anyone else in the world from it. When you put nationalism in front of capitalism you get bulldozed by your competitors.
T
The best worst I ever had was in Thuringia.
Self-moderated. Deleted my snarky, personal attack, off-topic comments directed toward the OP.
This is a decent thread topic. Not everyone here is an English expert. Many posters on this site aren’t native speakers.
Just to remind you: this is Forumosa, a forum operated within the confines of an island historically known as Formosa. On it live about 22 million Mandarin and Hokkien speakers.
A little leniency might be in order for particiapants that may not have mastered their comparative / superlative boards. 
T
BINGO. This paragraph sums it up pretty well.
MG, is there a particular reason why you’re so attracted to stay in Taiwan? If HK is better in terms of employment, why not go there?
It’s a dumb comparison, city state versus nation type state. To the OP, you got turned down, so try again some other way, you need to make an effort.
The distillate of this Human Resources issue lies deep down at the bottom of the flask that is Taiwan: This island is brilliantly and gently governed by an invasive and foreign regime.
What do I mean?
The ruling party of the Republic of China is the KMT, a failed political party that lost a civil war 63 years ago. They lost the war because their weak leadership and rampant corruption stymied their support at a very inopportune time. The only thing that saved them at first was luck, followed by a convenient allegiance between themselves and the conquerors of the Pacific. The United States was in the business of backing and/or befriend anyone in this region sworn to oppose the communists.
At first the KMT ran Formosa like a prison, but now the same party runs it like a colonialist runs a colony. They set things up to benefit themselves the most while keeping the locals happy enough not to pick up their muskets and tricornes.
To summarize:
The powers that run this island are in no hurry to invite in a whole bunch of egg-head foreigners to muck up a game they have designed to win.
Ever notice that everything is illegal here? Ever tried to start or run a business here. There is nothing about Taiwan that is designed to allow you (or anyone for that matter) to ‘climb’ out of their social standing. They love money here, but aren’t willing to risk the loss of control that comes with having large numbers of smart non-Han people around asking questions.
Ask yourself: Do you think the CCP in Beijing is happy with the way Hong Kong is run? Hong Kong is a thorn in their side that is now starting to fester only 15 years into their ‘relationship’.
T
MG,
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, then perhaps consider going and checking those places out? This is not a personal attack and god knows I can bitch and moan about Taiwan, but if it isn’t working for you, then you may need to reconsider “why” you are still here. If there’s no or very few career prospects here for you and you think HK or China might be a better choice, then it would make sense to go and find out. Good luck with whatever you decide on.
Status quo at its finest.
MG, I personally think Taiwan is not for you. Honestly, jobs here really reek (and it’s not just the smell).
Even for MNCs, Taiwanese and, surprisingly, foreigners working in Taiwan offices are being marginalized by their Western counterparts. Unless you’re working at MNC headquarters or a satellite office that contributes quite a lot to the bottom line (i.e. revenue), you’re gonna be working with a bunch of folks who are being constantly berated and looked down upon by others working remotely in areas which the MNC upper managements consider to be critical operational facilities (i.e. HQs).
Something for you to chew on from the sage 
I really want that not to be true, but deep inside my heart I know it is.
I can’t help but feel that in the hearts and minds of most people, despite being polite and respectful to foreigners, would prefer you didn’t settle down here.
I dont think thats the thinking of the majority. Your own assumptions color your view.
its like when you look at someone and they look back, and you assume they are looking at you. But they wouldnt be looking at you, if you didnt look at them .
You assume and therefore in your world its true.
Its not in the eyes of another perhaps.
That’s a good point.
Ask the long termers if they feel thus. I think that Twnese dont mind you living on the rock and actually give you better treatment if you are a long termer.
The problem is getting them to 100pct accept that you are one of them. Because frankly you never will be 100pct. YOu will always be the foreigner that is living on taiwan.
Accept this and get over it. If you are a polar bear and you live with brown bears all your life, you still is gonna be a polar bear. Just deal with it.
It doesnt mean they want to eat you or kill you or kick you out. You is still a polar bear PERIOD. But one thats Taiwan based tho, and that they can accept. IN fact they will defend you too if you are challenged by other polar bears.
One shudders to think. 
Anyway, no need to get too stressed out. The OP will pop in again in a while, start a few new threads and disappear for 3 months. C’est la vie.
The business environment couldn’t be better, maybe its different for foreigners without open work right, but for everyone else it doesn’t take much to start a business whereas in many Western countries you would need to comply with many often unnecessary laws that you would need a lot more than what it would take to start the business itself (you know a place for the business, and equipments needed). In Taiwan its much easier, although sometimes the market isn’t right…
As for discrimination against foreigners, if you’re white they welcome you and generally don’t mind you, in the West an Asian could face hate crimes.