Hong Kong trade offices, academic exchange targeted in bills passed by US House

Republican-led measure cutting Homeland Security funds for schools follows efforts to decouple Sino-American cooperation in education

Reading Time:3 minutes

The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday that could result in the closing of Hong Kong’s three trade missions in the country. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 2:15am, 11 Sep 2024Updated: 6:23am, 11 Sep 2024

The Republican-led US House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to advance legislation that could close Hong Kong’s diplomatic offices in the country and significantly curb Sino-American academic exchange.

The two bills were passed as part of ‘China week’, a House Republican-led effort to advance mainland-related legislation. More than a dozen bills targeting Beijing’s economic, political and technological influence passed on Monday.

All bills that pass the House must also clear the full Senate before they can be sent to US President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The bipartisan Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act would require 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 are found not to operate with a “high degree of autonomy” from the People’s Republic of China.

An undated photo of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Washington. Photo: Handout

The legislation, sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith, Republican of New Jersey, passed 413-3. A version of the bill previously cleared a committee in the Democratic-led Senate.