Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act

This bill sets rules for how the U.S. treats Hong Kong’s official trade offices in America (HKETOs). It makes the State Department decide if these offices still deserve special privileges. If the decision is “no,” the offices must close within 180 days. If the decision is “yes,” they can keep operating for about a year, until the next check. The bill’s goal is to end these privileges if Hong Kong is no longer truly self-governing and free from control by mainland China.

The bill also limits partnerships between U.S. government agencies and HKETOs. Agencies can only partner with them if the offices pass the State Department’s check and after a short, 90‑day review window. Any partnership cannot promote messages that excuse the loss of Hong Kong’s freedoms or claim that Hong Kong’s or China’s government protects the rule of law and human rights. The bill sets a U.S. policy to avoid helping such propaganda and to press for the release of political prisoners, an end to arbitrary arrests, a free press, fair open elections, and independent courts in Hong Kong.

• Who is affected:
  • Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the U.S. and U.S. federal agencies that might work with them.
• What changes:
  • A decision within 30 days of becoming law, and then regular yearly checks, on whether HKETOs keep special privileges. If they fail, they must shut down within 180 days; if they pass, they can operate for about one year until the next check.
  • Limits on U.S. agency partnerships with HKETOs and a ban on promoting messages that gloss over lost freedoms or human rights.
• When:
  • First decision due within 30 days of the bill becoming law; partnerships only allowed after that decision and a 90‑day review window; operations can continue for up to one year after a positive decision.