It just so happens I’m here visa exempted, and with that status, you can’t apply for a resident visa.
Thanks hsinhai78.
I would have followed this path (visitor visa, apply for JFRV in Taiwan). But right now it is like this, and I have everything ready to apply for a resident visa in Hong Kong. I just phoned the Hong Kong office. They say there won’t be any onward-ticket requirement with the visa I will get from them.
I have a flight ticket from Taiwan to Japan, but it’s after 80 days of my entry to Taiwan. I will be taking it just in case, and hope the 80 days is not too long in case they do require an onward ticket.