Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act

Sponsor: Jeff Merkley (Democratic-OR)

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

U.S. would review special status for Hong Kong offices if its autonomy fades.

This bill would make the Secretary of State regularly decide if Hong Kong's offices in the U.S. should keep their special diplomatic status. If the Secretary says no, these offices would need to close within 180 days. Congress would also get a new way to stop the offices from keeping their special status.

What Would Change

Today, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) in the U.S. have special diplomatic privileges, and the Secretary of State's reviews of Hong Kong's autonomy don't directly affect these offices. After this bill, the Secretary of State would be required to specifically decide if HKETOs still deserve these privileges. If not, the offices would have to close within 180 days, and Congress could also vote to block the Secretary's decision to let them continue.

Key Provisions

Requires the Secretary of State to decide if Hong Kong offices in the U.S. should keep their special diplomatic status.
Would force Hong Kong offices to close within 180 days if the Secretary of State determines they no longer deserve special status.
Lets Congress vote to reject the Secretary of State's decision to let Hong Kong offices keep their special status.
Limits U.S. government agencies from making deals with Hong Kong offices, especially if their special status is not affirmed or if the deals promote China's efforts to undermine Hong Kong's autonomy.
Sets a U.S. policy to push for the release of political prisoners, an end to arbitrary detentions, and the return of a free press and fair elections in Hong Kong.

View on Congress.gov

S 3655 · 119th Congress · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity