The 2016 Mainland Affairs Council budget has a budget of more than 1.05733 billion yuan, and the Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolian and Tibetan business budget is 134.21 million yuan.

The Mainland Affairs Council's 2016 budget has a budget of more than 1.05733 billion yuan, including a budget of 134.21 million yuan for Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolian and Tibetan affairs, and a total of more than 38.4 million yuan for rent of office buildings and parking lots in Hong Kong and Macao. (File photo)

The Mainland Affairs Council's 2016 budget allocates more than 1.05733 billion yuan, of which 134.21 million yuan is budgeted for Hong Kong, Macao and Mongolian and Tibetan affairs, and a total of more than 38.4 million yuan is allocated for rent of office buildings and parking lots in Hong Kong and Macao. The rental budget for the official residences of the Hong Kong and Macao chief ministers is only 1,000 yuan each.

China requires civil servants in the Taiwan Office in Hong Kong to submit a "One-China Commitment Letter." After the Mainland Affairs Council refused to sign such a letter five years ago, all employees were forced to return to Taiwan in July 2021. In recent years, no officials have been stationed in Hong Kong. The Mainland Affairs Council's rental budget for Hong Kong official buildings for next year only includes a symbolic provision of NT$1,000, which remains the same as last year.

It is understood that the Mainland Affairs Council has budgeted NT$5.3 million in 2021 and 2022 to rent the Hong Kong chief executive’s dormitory. Legislators questioned why this budget was compiled since there are no civil servants stationed in Hong Kong. Since the rental budget dropped to NT$3.1 million in 2025, only NT$1,000 will be allocated in the 2026 budget for the first time, and a symbolic NT$1,000 will be allocated in next year's budget.

According to the budget, the annual rent for the office in Macau next year is NT$7.9 million, and the rental of the Macau chief’s dormitory is NT$1,000. The maintenance cost for next year’s Macau Founding Fathers Memorial Hall, the only domestically produced building in the Republic of China, is NT$2.1 million, a significant reduction from this year’s maintenance cost of NT$7.34 million.

The Mainland Affairs Council stated in the budget document that the situation in Hong Kong and Macao is severe. In order to ensure the rights and welfare of the people in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, and to continue the operation and service efficiency of the Hong Kong and Macao offices of the Association to achieve the goal of uninterrupted service to the people, a budget of 134.21 million yuan has been compiled for Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolian and Tibetan affairs.