Some 60% of Taiwanese say their government should do more to provide refuge and better assistance to dissidents from Hong Kong seeking asylum in Taiwan, a phone survey has found.

The survey, sponsored by the New Power Party, was conducted in anticipation that more Hong Kongers would seek refuge in the self-ruled island after Beijing enacts the new national security law for Hong Kong. The law, tailor-made for the city, is expected to come into force in the next few months.

The phone survey, conducted between May 25 and 26, asked the views of people aged 20 and above across Taiwan and has a valid random sample of 811 individuals, according to the NPP.

Beijing's decision to bypass Hong Kong's legislature to enact the law for the semi-autonomous city has caused great anxiety over the potential loss of civil liberties and the city's autonomy. The legislation's vaguely worded draft states that the law will prohibit acts and activities of secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference.

Taiwan currently has no refugee law. The Democratic Progressive Party administration has promised it would do more to help asylum seekers from Hong Kong but at the same time maintained that existing laws are sufficient.

Article 18 of the "Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong and Macao Affairs" stipulates that the Taiwanese government can offer "necessary assistance" to people in the two territories "whose safety and liberty are immediately threatened for political reasons."

The survey also finds Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has an approval rate of 68% while 65% of those surveyed are satisfied with Premier Su Tseng-chang's performance.

The duo's high approval rating could be attributed to Taiwan's exceptional performance in keeping Taiwan safe from the coronavirus pandemic, political scientist Fan Shih-ping said at the survey results press briefing. But the real challenge of boosting the economy is just about to start and that may dampen their high ratings in future, Fan added.

The NPP has been sympathetic towards Hong Kong's fight for freedom and democracy since its formation in early 2015. The party is the fourth largest in Taiwan's legislature, but it only has three seats in the 113-member Legislative Yuan.

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