Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act

Key Points

• This bill requires the Secretary of State to decide every year if the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the U.S. should keep their special legal status. These offices currently enjoy many of the same privileges as foreign embassies, such as tax exemptions and certain legal protections.
• If the government finds that Hong Kong is no longer truly independent from China, these offices would be forced to shut down within 180 days. This would affect the three existing offices currently operating in Washington, D.C., New York, and San Francisco.
• The goal is to ensure the U.S. does not give special treatment to a government that has lost its autonomy. Lawmakers are concerned that China is using these offices to spread propaganda and justify the crackdown on human rights and democracy in Hong Kong.
• The plan also bans U.S. government agencies from partnering with these offices to promote tourism or business if those promotions claim Hong Kong is still a free and autonomous city. It aims to stop the U.S. from accidentally helping with Chinese government messaging.
• While this move pressures China to respect Hong Kong's rights, it could lead to more tension between the U.S. and China. Closing the offices might also make it harder for some businesses to get direct information about trade and culture in the region.

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