The search for the replacement of Sai Mizzi Liang is "currently in the final stages", a Malta Enterprise spokesperson has told The Malta Independent.

The spokesperson also revealed that Malta Entreprise had received a total of ten applications in a public call in November 2016.

However, the spokesperson stressed that "It is not easy to find someone who knows Malta well, is fluent in both English and Chinese and has business acumen".

Both the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs did not answer questions sent by telephone, text message and email despite numerous promises to do so.

The ministries' silence is particularly significant when considering that Mrs Mizzi Liang would have earned €558,000 from taxpayers' money by the time her contract officially expires on 26 February 2017 (Sunday) following the six months extension granted her by the Ministry of the Economy, Investment and Small Business.

Her original contract, which had expired on 26 August 2016, was tabled by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in parliament on 14 July 2014 and was based on those of  former ambassadors Joe Cassar and Karl Xuereb. This indicated that she had been given an ambassador's salary, a diplomatic passport and diplomatic duties, plus payments that went beyond the basic salary.

The PN had claimed that this would amount amount to €480,000, in three years, for an average of €13,000 per month.

Besides being the Malta Enterprise Special Envoy to Asia, Mrs Mizzi Liang also occupies the role of Consul General at the Consulate for Malta in Shanghai, as is indicated on both Maltese and Chinese government websites.

In fact, when replying to questions sent by The Malta Independent in 2014, the Office of the Prime Minister implied that Mrs Mizzi Laing's job is primarily that of a diplomat and secondly as a trade envoy.  

This is certainly confusing when, as was confirmed by Minister George Vella in 2014, she does not form part of the foreign affair ministry.

It remains unclear whether or not Mrs Mizzi Liang's replacement will also occupy the role of Consul General in Shanghai.

In September 2016, sources within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs said that Ruth Mary Farrugia, a former consul general in Toronto, Canada, and a seasoned diplomat had taken over as Malta's new consul general in Shanghai.

However, six months on and Mrs Mizzi Liang still occupies the post as according to both Chinese and Maltese government websites.