Explainer | What are Hong Kong’s trade offices and why are they in cross hairs of US bill?
Role of outposts in spotlight amid US politicians’ bid to close branches and spying allegations against Hong Kong office director in UK
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that could lead to the closure of Hong Kong’s three trade offices in the country.
Some US Congress members who support the bill have previously questioned whether Hong Kong, following the enactment of the national security law in 2020, remains sufficiently autonomous to justify having its own representation separate from Beijing’s.
Both the central and Hong Kong authorities mounted a robust attack against Washington in the wake of the bill’s passage on Tuesday, with the former warning of strong countermeasures if the proposed legislation continued to advance through Congress.
The Post outlines the roles of Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) and how the bill will affect the city.
1. What is the bill about?
The bipartisan Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act requires the US secretary of state to review the city’s three American trade missions – in New York, San Francisco and Washington – and strip them of privileges if they were found to operate without a “high degree of autonomy” from the People’s Republic of China.
The bill passed by the House must also clear the full Senate, Congress’ upper chamber, before it can be sent to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
