II 

Calendar No. 148 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 490 

To require the President to remove the extension of certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices 

if Hong Kong no longer enjoys a high degree of autonomy from the 

People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 

Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mr. COONS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JULY 25, 2023 

Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To require the President to remove the extension of certain 

privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the Hong Kong 

Economic and Trade Offices if Hong Kong no longer 

enjoys a high degree of autonomy from the People’s 

Republic of China, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hong Kong Economic 

3 and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. CERTIFICATION ON WHETHER TO EXTEND CERTAIN 

5 PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES 

6 TO THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE 

7 OFFICES IN THE UNITED STATES. 

8 (a) CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 

9 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 

10 thereafter as part of each certification required by the Sec11 retary of State under section 205(a)(1)(A) of the United 

12 States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 

13 5725(a)(1)(A)), the President shall submit to the appro14 priate congressional committees a certification that— 

15 (1) the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Of16 fices— 

17 (A) merit extension and application of the 

18 privileges, exemptions, and immunities specified 

19 in subsection (b); or 

20 (B) no longer merit extension and applica21 tion of the privileges, exemptions, and immuni22 ties specified in subsection (b); and 

23 (2) a detailed report justifying that certifi24 cation. 

25 (b) PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES

26 SPECIFIED.—The privileges, exemptions, and immunities 


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1 specified in this subsection are the privileges, exemptions, 

2 and immunities extended and applied to the Hong Kong 

3 Economic and Trade Offices under section 1 of the Act 

4 entitled ‘‘An Act to extend certain privileges, exemptions, 

5 and immunities to Hong Kong Economic and Trade Of6 fices’’, approved June 27, 1997 (22 U.S.C. 288k). 

7 (c) EFFECT OF CERTIFICATION.— 

8 (1) TERMINATION.—If the President certifies 

9 under subsection (a)(1)(B) that the Hong Kong 

10 Economic and Trade Offices no longer merit exten11 sion and application of the privileges, exemptions, 

12 and immunities specified in subsection (b), the Hong 

13 Kong Economic and Trade Offices shall terminate 

14 operations not later than 180 days after the date on 

15 which that certification is delivered to the appro16 priate congressional committees. 

17 (2) CONTINUED OPERATIONS.—If the President 

18 certifies under subsection (a)(1)(A) that the Hong 

19 Kong Economic and Trade Offices merit extension 

20 and application of the privileges, exemptions, and 

21 immunities specified in subsection (b), the Hong 

22 Kong Economic and Trade Offices may continue op23 erations for the one-year period following the date of 

24 that certification or until the next certification re25 quired under section 205(a)(1)(A) of the United 


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1 States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 

2 5725(a)(1)(A)) is submitted, whichever occurs first, 

3 unless a disapproval resolution is enacted under sub4 section (f). 

5 (d) REVOCATION OF EXTENSION AND APPLICATION

6 OF PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES.—The 

7 President may revoke the extension and application to the 

8 Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices of the privileges, 

9 exceptions, and immunities specified in subsection (b). 

10 (e) TERMINATION OF CERTIFICATION REQUIRE11 MENT.—If the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices 

12 terminate operations in the United States, whether pursu13 ant to subsection (c) or otherwise, the President shall not 

14 issue additional certifications under subsection (a)(1) after 

15 the date on which those operations terminated. 

16 (f) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.— 

17 (1) DISAPPROVAL RESOLUTION.—In this sub18 section, the term ‘‘disapproval resolution’’ means 

19 only a joint resolution of either House of Congress— 

20 (A) the title of which is the following: ‘‘A 

21 joint resolution disapproving the certification by 

22 the President that the Hong Kong Economic 

23 and Trade Offices continue to merit extension 

24 and application of certain privileges, exemp25 tions, and immunities.’’; and 


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1 (B) the sole matter after the resolving 

2 clause of which is the following: ‘‘Congress dis3 approves of the certification by the President 

4 under section 2(a)(1)(A) of the Hong Kong 

5 Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certifi6 cation Act that the Hong Kong Economic and 

7 Trade Offices merit extension and application 

8 of certain privileges, exemptions, and immuni9 ties, on lll.’’, with the blank space being 

10 filled with the appropriate date. 

11 (2) INTRODUCTION.—A disapproval resolution 

12 may be introduced— 

13 (A) in the House of Representatives, by 

14 the majority leader or the minority leader; and 

15 (B) in the Senate, by the majority leader 

16 (or the majority leader’s designee) or the mi17 nority leader (or the minority leader’s des18 ignee). 

19 (3) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN HOUSE OF REP20 RESENTATIVES.—If a committee of the House of 

21 Representatives to which a disapproval resolution 

22 has been referred has not reported the resolution 

23 within 10 legislative days after the date of referral, 

24 that committee shall be discharged from further con25 sideration of the resolution. 


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1 (4) CONSIDERATION IN SENATE.— 

2 (A) COMMITTEE REFERRAL.—A dis3 approval resolution introduced in the Senate 

4 shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign 

5 Relations. 

6 (B) REPORTING AND DISCHARGE.—If the 

7 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 

8 has not reported the resolution within 10 legis9 lative days after the date of referral of the reso10 lution, that committee shall be discharged from 

11 further consideration of the resolution and the 

12 resolution shall be placed on the appropriate 

13 calendar. 

14 (C) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 

15 Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing 

16 Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time 

17 after the Committee on Foreign Relations re18 ports a disapproval resolution to the Senate or 

19 has been discharged from consideration of such 

20 a resolution (even though a previous motion to 

21 the same effect has been disagreed to) to move 

22 to proceed to the consideration of the resolu23 tion, and all points of order against the resolu24 tion (and against consideration of the resolu25 tion) are waived. The motion to proceed is not 


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1 debatable. The motion is not subject to a mo2 tion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the 

3 vote by which the motion is agreed to or dis4 agreed to shall not be in order. 

5 (D) RULINGS OF THE CHAIR ON PROCE6 DURE.—Appeals from the decisions of the Chair 

7 relating to the application of the rules of the 

8 Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure re9 lating to a disapproval resolution shall be de10 cided without debate. 

11 (E) CONSIDERATION OF VETO MES12 SAGES.—Debate in the Senate of any veto mes13 sage with respect to a disapproval resolution, 

14 including all debatable motions and appeals in 

15 connection with the resolution, shall be limited 

16 to 10 hours, to be equally divided between, and 

17 controlled by, the majority leader and the mi18 nority leader or their designees. 

19 (5) RULES RELATING TO SENATE AND HOUSE

20 OF REPRESENTATIVES.— 

21 (A) TREATMENT OF SENATE RESOLUTION

22 IN HOUSE.—In the House of Representatives, 

23 the following procedures shall apply to a dis24 approval resolution received from the Senate 


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1 (unless the House has already passed a resolu2 tion relating to the same proposed action): 

3 (i) The resolution shall be referred to 

4 the appropriate committees. 

5 (ii) If a committee to which a resolu6 tion has been referred has not reported the 

7 resolution within 10 legislative days after 

8 the date of referral, that committee shall 

9 be discharged from further consideration 

10 of the resolution. 

11 (iii) Beginning on the third legislative 

12 day after each committee to which a reso13 lution has been referred reports the resolu14 tion to the House or has been discharged 

15 from further consideration thereof, it shall 

16 be in order to move to proceed to consider 

17 the resolution in the House. All points of 

18 order against the motion are waived. Such 

19 a motion shall not be in order after the 

20 House has disposed of a motion to proceed 

21 on the resolution. The previous question 

22 shall be considered as ordered on the mo23 tion to its adoption without intervening 

24 motion. The motion shall not be debatable. 

25 A motion to reconsider the vote by which 


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1 the motion is disposed of shall not be in 

2 order. 

3 (iv) The resolution shall be considered 

4 as read. All points of order against the res5 olution and against its consideration are 

6 waived. The previous question shall be con7 sidered as ordered on the resolution to 

8 final passage without intervening motion 

9 except 2 hours of debate equally divided 

10 and controlled by the offeror of the motion 

11 to proceed (or a designee) and an oppo12 nent. A motion to reconsider the vote on 

13 passage of the resolution shall not be in 

14 order. 

15 (B) TREATMENT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION

16 IN SENATE.— 

17 (i) RECEIVED BEFORE PASSAGE OF

18 SENATE RESOLUTION.—If, before the pas19 sage by the Senate of a disapproval resolu20 tion, the Senate receives an identical reso21 lution from the House of Representatives, 

22 the following procedures shall apply: 

23 (I) That resolution shall not be 

24 referred to a committee. 


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1 (II) With respect to that resolu2 tion— 

3 (aa) the procedure in the 

4 Senate shall be the same as if no 

5 resolution had been received from 

6 the House of Representatives; 

7 but 

8 (bb) the vote on passage 

9 shall be on the resolution from 

10 the House of Representatives. 

11 (ii) RECEIVED AFTER PASSAGE OF

12 SENATE RESOLUTION.—If, following pas13 sage of a disapproval resolution in the Sen14 ate, the Senate receives an identical resolu15 tion from the House of Representatives, 

16 that resolution shall be placed on the ap17 propriate Senate calendar. 

18 (iii) NO SENATE COMPANION.—If a 

19 disapproval resolution is received from the 

20 House of Representatives, and no com21 panion resolution has been introduced in 

22 the Senate, the Senate procedures under 

23 this subsection shall apply to the resolution 

24 from the House of Representatives. 


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1 (C) APPLICATION TO REVENUE MEAS2 URES.—The provisions of this subparagraph 

3 shall not apply in the House of Representatives 

4 to a disapproval resolution that is a revenue 

5 measure. 

6 (6) RULES OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

7 AND SENATE.—This paragraph is enacted by Con8 gress— 

9 (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power 

10 of the Senate and the House of Representa11 tives, respectively, and as such is deemed a part 

12 of the rules of each House, respectively, and su13 persedes other rules only to the extent that it 

14 is inconsistent with such rules; and 

15 (B) with full recognition of the constitu16 tional right of either House to change the rules 

17 (so far as relating to the procedure of that 

18 House) at any time, in the same manner, and 

19 to the same extent as in the case of any other 

20 rule of that House. 

21 (g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT23 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com24 mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations 


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1 of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

2 of the House of Representatives. 

3 (2) HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OF4 FICES.—The term ‘‘Hong Kong Economic and 

5 Trade Offices’’ has the meaning given that term in 

6 section 1(c) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to extend 

7 certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities to 

8 Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices’’, approved 

9 June 27, 1997 (22 U.S.C. 288k). 

10 SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON CONTRACTING RELATING TO HONG 

11 KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICES. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date of the en13 actment of this Act, an entity of the United States Gov14 ernment may enter into an agreement or partnership with 

15 the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices to promote 

16 tourism, culture, business, or other matters relating to 

17 Hong Kong only if— 

18 (1) the President has submitted to the Com19 mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 

20 Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep21 resentatives a certification under section 2(a)(1)(A) 

22 that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices 

23 merit extension and application of certain privileges, 

24 exemptions, and immunities; and 


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1 (2) a disapproval resolution under section 2(f) 

2 is not enacted during the 90-day period following the 

3 submission of that certification. 

4 (b) CERTIFICATION.— 

5 (1) EXISTING AGREEMENTS AND PARTNER6 SHIPS.—Not later than 100 days after the date of 

7 the enactment of this Act, any entity of the United 

8 States Government or any entity that holds a cur9 rent Federal contract with the United States Gov10 ernment that has in effect an agreement or partner11 ship with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Of12 fices, shall submit to the Secretary of State and the 

13 Administrator of the General Services Administra14 tion a certification described in paragraph (3) with 

15 respect to each such agreement or partnership. 

16 (2) NEW AGREEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS.— 

17 Not later than 15 days after entering into an agree18 ment or partnership with the Hong Kong Economic 

19 and Trade Offices, an entity of the United States 

20 Government or an entity that holds a current Fed21 eral contract with the United States Government 

22 shall submit to the Secretary of State and the Ad23 ministrator of the General Services Administration a 

24 certification described in paragraph (3) with respect 

25 to that agreement or partnership. 


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1 (3) CERTIFICATION DESCRIBED.—With respect 

2 to an agreement or partnership with the Hong Kong 

3 Economic and Trade Offices, a certification de4 scribed in this paragraph is a certification that the 

5 agreement or partnership does not promote efforts 

6 by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Ad7 ministrative Region and the Government of the Peo8 ple’s Republic of China— 

9 (A) to justify the dismantling of the auton10 omy of Hong Kong and the freedoms and rule 

11 of law guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint 

12 Declaration of 1984; or 

13 (B) to portray within the United States 

14 the Government of the Hong Kong Special Ad15 ministrative Region or the Government of the 

16 People’s Republic of China as protecting the 

17 rule of law or the human rights and civil lib18 erties of the people of Hong Kong. 

19 (c) HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICES

20 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Hong Kong Eco21 nomic and Trade Offices’’ has the meaning given that 

22 term in section 1(c) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to extend 

23 certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities to Hong 

24 Kong Economic and Trade Offices’’, approved June 27, 

25 1997 (22 U.S.C. 288k). 


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1 SEC. 4. POLICY OF UNITED STATES ON PROMOTION OF AU2 TONOMY OF GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG 

3 KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION. 

4 It is the policy of the United States— 

5 (1) to ensure that entities of the United States 

6 Government do not knowingly assist in the pro7 motion of Hong Kong as a free and autonomous city 

8 or the Government of the Hong Kong Special Ad9 ministrative Region as committed to protecting the 

10 human rights of the people of Hong Kong or fully 

11 maintaining the rule of law required for human 

12 rights and economic prosperity as long as the Sec13 retary of State continues to certify under section 

14 205(a)(1) of the United States-Hong Kong Policy 

15 Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5725(a)(1)) that Hong 

16 Kong does not enjoy a high degree of autonomy 

17 from the People’s Republic of China and does not 

18 warrant treatment under the laws of the United 

19 States in the same manner as those laws were ap20 plied to Hong Kong before July 1, 1997; 

21 (2) to recognize that promotion of Hong Kong 

22 as described in paragraph (1) should be considered 

23 propaganda for the efforts of the People’s Republic 

24 of China to dismantle rights and freedom guaran25 teed to the residents of Hong Kong by the InterVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:19 Jul 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S490.RS S490

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1 national Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and 

2 the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984; 

3 (3) to ensure that entities of the United States 

4 Government do not engage in or assist with propa5 ganda of the People’s Republic of China regarding 

6 Hong Kong; and 

7 (4) to engage with the Government of the Hong 

8 Kong Special Administrative Region, through all rel9 evant entities of the United States Government, 

10 seeking the release of political prisoners, the end of 

11 arbitrary detentions, the resumption of a free press 

12 and fair and free elections open to all candidates, 

13 and the restoration of an independent judiciary. 

14 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

15 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hong Kong Economic 

16 and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act’’. 

17 SEC. 2. DETERMINATION ON WHETHER TO EXTEND CER18 TAIN PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMU19 NITIES TO THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND 

20 TRADE OFFICES IN THE UNITED STATES. 

21 (a) DETERMINATION REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 

22 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and there23 after as part of each certification required by the Secretary 

24 of State under section 205(a)(1)(A) of the United States25 Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5725(a)(1)(A)), 


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1 the Secretary of State shall, as part of such certification, 

2 include a separate determination that— 

3 (1) the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Of4 fices— 

5 (A) merit extension and application of the 

6 privileges, exemptions, and immunities specified 

7 in subsection (b); or 

8 (B) no longer merit extension and applica9 tion of the privileges, exemptions, and immuni10 ties specified in subsection (b); and 

11 (2) a detailed report justifying that determina12 tion, which may include considerations related to 

13 United States national security interests. 

14 (b) PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES

15 SPECIFIED.—The privileges, exemptions, and immunities 

16 specified in this subsection are the privileges, exemptions, 

17 and immunities extended and applied to the Hong Kong 

18 Economic and Trade Offices under section 1 of the Act enti19 tled ‘‘An Act to extend certain privileges, exemptions, and 

20 immunities to Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices’’, 

21 approved June 27, 1997 (22 U.S.C. 288k). 

22 (c) EFFECT OF DETERMINATION.— 

23 (1) TERMINATION.—If the Secretary of State de24 termines under subsection (a)(1)(B) that the Hong 

25 Kong Economic and Trade Offices no longer merit exVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:19 Jul 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S490.RS S490

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1 tension and application of the privileges, exemptions, 

2 and immunities specified in subsection (b), the Hong 

3 Kong Economic and Trade Offices shall terminate op4 erations not later than 180 days after the date on 

5 which that determination is delivered to the appro6 priate congressional committees, as part of the certifi7 cation required under section 205(a)(1)(A) of the 

8 United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (22 

9 U.S.C. 5725(a)(1)(A)). 

10 (2) CONTINUED OPERATIONS.—If the Secretary 

11 of State determines under subsection (a)(1)(A) that 

12 the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices merit ex13 tension and application of the privileges, exemptions, 

14 and immunities specified in subsection (b), the Hong 

15 Kong Economic and Trade Offices may continue op16 erations for the one-year period following the date of 

17 the certification that includes that determination or 

18 until the next certification required under section 

19 205(a)(1)(A) of the United States-Hong Kong Policy 

20 Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5725(a)(1)(A)) is submitted, 

21 whichever occurs first, unless a disapproval resolution 

22 is enacted under subsection (d). 

23 (d) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.— 


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1 (1) DISAPPROVAL RESOLUTION.—In this sub2 section, the term ‘‘disapproval resolution’’ means only 

3 a joint resolution of either House of Congress— 

4 (A) the title of which is the following: ‘‘A 

5 joint resolution disapproving the determination 

6 by the President that the Hong Kong Economic 

7 and Trade Offices continue to merit extension 

8 and application of certain privileges, exemp9 tions, and immunities.’’; and 

10 (B) the sole matter after the resolving clause 

11 of which is the following: ‘‘Congress disapproves 

12 of the determination by the Secretary of State 

13 under section 2(a)(1)(A) of the Hong Kong Eco14 nomic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification 

15 Act that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade 

16 Offices merit extension and application of cer17 tain privileges, exemptions, and immunities, on 

18 lll.’’, with the blank space being filled with 

19 the appropriate date. 

20 (2) INTRODUCTION.—A disapproval resolution 

21 may be introduced— 

22 (A) in the House of Representatives, by the 

23 majority leader or the minority leader; and 


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1 (B) in the Senate, by the majority leader 

2 (or the majority leader’s designee) or the minor3 ity leader (or the minority leader’s designee). 

4 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

5 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT6 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit7 tees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

8 the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

9 the House of Representatives. 

10 (2) HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OF11 FICES.—The term ‘‘Hong Kong Economic and Trade 

12 Offices’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

13 1(c) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to extend certain 

14 privileges, exemptions, and immunities to Hong Kong 

15 Economic and Trade Offices’’, approved June 27, 

16 1997 (22 U.S.C. 288k). 

17 SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON CONTRACTING RELATING TO HONG 

18 KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICES. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date of the enact20 ment of this Act, an entity of the United States Government 

21 may enter into an agreement or partnership with the Hong 

22 Kong Economic and Trade Offices to promote tourism, cul23 ture, business, or other matters relating to Hong Kong only 

24 if— 


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1 (1) the Secretary of State has submitted to the 

2 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 

3 Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep4 resentatives a determination under section 2(a)(1)(A) 

5 that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices 

6 merit extension and application of certain privileges, 

7 exemptions, and immunities; 

8 (2) a disapproval resolution under section 2(d) 

9 is not enacted during the 90-day period following the 

10 submission of that determination; and 

11 (3) the agreement or partnership does not pro12 mote efforts by the Government of the Hong Kong 

13 Special Administrative Region and the Government 

14 of the People’s Republic of China— 

15 (A) to justify the dismantling of the auton16 omy of Hong Kong and the freedoms and rule of 

17 law guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Dec18 laration of 1984; and 

19 (B) to portray within the United States the 

20 Government of the Hong Kong Special Adminis21 trative Region or the Government of the People’s 

22 Republic of China as protecting the rule of law 

23 or the human rights and civil liberties of the peo24 ple of Hong Kong. 


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1 (b) HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICES DE2 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Hong Kong Economic 

3 and Trade Offices’’ has the meaning given that term in sec4 tion 1(c) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to extend certain privi5 leges, exemptions, and immunities to Hong Kong Economic 

6 and Trade Offices’’, approved June 27, 1997 (22 U.S.C. 

7 288k). 

8 SEC. 4. POLICY OF UNITED STATES ON PROMOTION OF AU9 TONOMY OF GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG 

10 KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION. 

11 It is the policy of the United States— 

12 (1) to ensure that entities of the United States 

13 Government do not knowingly assist in the promotion 

14 of Hong Kong as a free and autonomous city or the 

15 Government of the Hong Kong Special Administra16 tive Region as committed to protecting the human 

17 rights of the people of Hong Kong or fully maintain18 ing the rule of law required for human rights and 

19 economic prosperity as long as the Secretary of State 

20 continues to determine under section 205(a)(1) of the 

21 United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (22 

22 U.S.C. 5725(a)(1)) that Hong Kong does not enjoy a 

23 high degree of autonomy from the People’s Republic 

24 of China and does not warrant treatment under the 

25 laws of the United States in the same manner as 


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1 those laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1, 

2 1997; 

3 (2) to recognize that promotion of Hong Kong as 

4 described in paragraph (1) should be considered prop5 aganda for the efforts of the People’s Republic of 

6 China to dismantle rights and freedom guaranteed to 

7 the residents of Hong Kong by the International Cov8 enant on Civil and Political Rights and the Sino9 British Joint Declaration of 1984; 

10 (3) to ensure that entities of the United States 

11 Government do not engage in or assist with propa12 ganda of the People’s Republic of China regarding 

13 Hong Kong; and 

14 (4) to engage with the Government of the Hong 

15 Kong Special Administrative Region, through all rel16 evant entities of the United States Government, seek17 ing the release of political prisoners, the end of arbi18 trary detentions, the resumption of a free press and 

19 fair and free elections open to all candidates, and the 

20 restoration of an independent judiciary. 


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Calendar No. 147 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 490 

A BILL 

To require the President to remove the extension of 

for other purposes. tonomy from the People’s Republic of China, and Hong Kong no longer enjoys a high degree of authe Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices if certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities to 

JULY 25, 2023 

Reported with an amendment 


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