Taipei: Taiwan's President used the country's National Day celebrations to urge mainland China to embrace democracy, starting with troubled Hong Kong.

In a speech to a colourful crowd of thousands assembled near the Presidential Office Building, President Ma Ying-jeou said Taiwan gave "strong support" for the people of Hong Kong's struggle for the democratic election of their local government. He also suggested that Beijing should approach political reform today in the way it embraced early economic reforms three decades ago.

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou, front, raises his fist during National Day celebrations marking the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China in Taipei, Taiwan. Credit:Reuters

"Thirty years ago, when [China's paramount leader] Deng Xiaoping was pushing for reform and opening up in the mainland, he famously proposed letting some people get rich first," said Mr Ma. "So why couldn't they do the same thing in Hong Kong, and let some people go democratic first?"

Mr Ma's remarks, on Taiwan's 103rd National Day, come after talks between Occupy Central protesters and the local Hong Kong government were called off this week, raising expectations of a more protracted impasse in the city of 7.2 million.