Stella Poon, general manager of the council's Taiwan office, announced at a Lunar New Year reception on Wednesday that she will leave her position at the end of the month for "personal career development."

Although Poon stopped short of saying where her future career path lied, she said in her speech that she will take a career break in Taiwan after parting ways with the council.

Sources said Poon has decided to leave the TDC after her term as the chief of the council's Taiwan office ends and has no intention of renewing her contract with the council.

Poon has also obtained the right of abode in Taiwan, according to sources, while her position at the TDC will temporarily remain vacant after her departure.

In response, the TDC said yesterday that it is aware of the news.

"We are arranging for a new general manager to fill the vacancy after Poon's departure, who will keep helping Hong Kong companies connect with people in Taiwan and expand the market," it said.

However, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council refused to comment on whether Poon has obtained the right of abode in Taiwan.

"Taiwan authorities will process all applications applying for the right of abode in Taiwan by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law," it said.

"The Mainland Affairs Council does not have a comment regarding individual cases."

This came a month after Taiwan's National Immigration Agency revealed that the number of Hongkongers who successfully obtained the right of abode in Taiwan skyrocketed to 10,813 last year - a record high since the 1990s.

According to the National Immigration Agency, the number of Hongkongers seeking the right of abode in Taiwan significantly surged after the implementation of the national security law in June.