Taiwan's China-policy agency is keeping its Hong Kong and Macau offices funded even though no officials are stationed in Hong Kong, a quiet sign of how badly relations have frozen.

• The Mainland Affairs Council has asked for just over NT$1 billion for next year, including NT$134 million for Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Tibet work.
• Rent for the top official's residence in both Hong Kong and Macau is set at a symbolic NT$1,000 each — a placeholder, not a real lease.
• Taiwan's staff were forced home from Hong Kong in 2021 after refusing to sign Beijing's "one China" pledge, and none have returned.
• The residence budget has been cut step by step from millions of NT dollars a year, after lawmakers asked why Taiwan was paying rent for empty housing.
• Upkeep money for Taiwan's one property in Macau, the Sun Yat-sen memorial hall, is also being slashed by most of its current amount.

Outlook: Taiwan looks set to keep a skeleton presence in Hong Kong and Macau on paper while spending as little as possible, with no sign staff will return soon.