Sai Mizzi Liang is "not one of the 10 candidates" being considered for the post of Malta's trade envoy to Asia, a post she will vacate when her contract expires tomorrow, a Malta Enterprise spokesperson has told The Malta Independent.

The spokesperson had earlier told The Malta Independent that the search for Mrs Mizzi Liang yielded 10 candidates and that the process was in its "final stages".

It was also revealed that Mrs Mizzi Liang's replacement's contract will be for a period of three years and will have a that is  financial package "more or less on the same lines as that of Ms Mizzi".

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

According to the spokesperson, the new representative will not occupy this other role.

This is puzzling considering that in 2014 the Office of the Prime Minister implied that Mrs Mizzi Liang's job is primarily that of a diplomat and secondly a trade envoy to Asia, when replying to questions sent by The Malta Independent.

However, in 2014 Minister George Vella also said that Mrs Mizzi Liang does not form part of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

This newsroom has sent questions to the Ministry and is waiting their reply as it is yet unclear whether or not Mrs Mizzi Liang will continue to act as the Consul General in Shanghai.

It is also unknown if Mrs Mizzi Liang will retain the same financial package and privileges should she continue in the role.

There are also questions as to whether or not the role of Consul General would continue to exist should Mrs Mizzi Liang vacate the role as The Malta Independent has also been informed by sources that a Consulate General in Shanghai was introduced during the current legislature.

Should the position continue after Mrs Mizzi Liang, is still unknown as to her replacement may be.

On the other hand, the Ministry for Economy, Investment and Small Business is refusing to answer questions sent by telephone, text message, and email over two weeks ago, despite promises to do so.

Mrs Mizzi Liang would have earned €558,000 from taxpayers' money, on an average of €13,000 per month, by the time her contract officially expires tomorrow following the six months extension granted her by the ministry.

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.

On 25 February 2016, Mrs Mizzi Liang's husband Minister Konrad Mizzi told the press that his wife intended to relinquish her role.