Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · April 7, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to annually determine whether Hong Kong's Economic and Trade Offices in the United States should keep their special legal privileges and immunities, based on whether Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China. If the Secretary determines Hong Kong no longer has this autonomy, the offices must close within 180 days. Congress can overturn a positive certification (allowing offices to continue) through a special disapproval resolution with streamlined procedures designed to bypass normal delays. The bill also restricts U.S. government agreements with these offices from promoting Hong Kong or China's government in ways that contradict evidence of lost freedoms, and establishes a policy that U.S. entities should not assist in portraying Hong Kong as free or autonomous if the Secretary has found it lacks true autonomy. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and does not include new funding.
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