Hong Kong Watch welcomes the reintroduction of Senator Rubio's bipartisan bill to review HKETOs

Yesterday, Senator Marco Rubio reintroduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate to require the President of the United States to certify and review the diplomatic status and privileges of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the USA yearly.

The original bill was introduced by Senator Rubio and Congressman Chris Smith in the last Congress back in December 2022 and followed recommendations from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission for the status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices to be reviewed in its annual report to Congress in November 2022.

On 13 October 2022, Hong Kong Watch released original research into the role and privileges of Hong Kong Economy and Trade Offices globally. The report recommended that governments review the diplomatic status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices and consider rebranding them as part of the Chinese Embassy following the introduction of the National Security Law.

Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Jim McGovern will reintroduce a companion bill in the US House of Representatives and the bill is supported by other commissioners of the Congressional Executive Commission China.

Commenting on the reintroduction of the bipartisan bill, Sam Goodman, Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

“We welcome and fully support the reintroduction of Senator Rubio’s bill which will require the President to review and annually certify the diplomatic status and privileges of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the USA.

Since October 2022, Hong Kong Watch through our research and advocacy has been calling for the rescinding of the diplomatic status and the rebranding of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices across the world.

Given that the National Security Law has stripped Hong Kongers of their rights and the Hong Kong Government of its autonomy, there is little sense for the continuation of these economic and trade offices in their current form.”