Hong Kong, including allowing the people of Hong 
Kong to govern Hong Kong with a high degree of 
autonomy and without undue interference, and en-
suring that Hong Kong voters freely enjoy the right 
to elect the Chief Executive and all members of the 
Hong Kong Legislative Council by universal suf-
frage; 
(5) to support the establishment of a genuine 
democratic option to freely and fairly nominate and 
elect the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and the es-
tablishment of open and direct democratic elections 
for all members of the Hong Kong Legislative Coun-
cil; 
(6) to support the robust exercise by residents 
of Hong Kong of the rights to free speech, the press, 
and other fundamental freedoms, as provided by the 
Basic Law, the Joint Declaration, and the Inter-
national Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 
(7) to support freedom from arbitrary or unlaw-
ful arrest, detention, or imprisonment for all Hong 
Kong residents, as provided by the Basic Law, the 
Joint Declaration, and the International Covenant 
on Civil and Political Rights; 
(8) to draw international attention to any viola-
tions by the Government of the PRC of the funda-
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mental rights of the people of Hong Kong, as pro-
vided by the International Covenant on Civil and Po-
litical Rights, and any encroachment upon the au-
tonomy guaranteed to Hong Kong by the Basic Law 
and the Joint Declaration; 
(9) to protect United States citizens and long- 
term permanent residents living in Hong Kong, as 
well as people visiting and transiting through Hong 
Kong; 
(10) to maintain the economic and cultural ties 
that provide significant benefits to both the United 
States and Hong Kong, including the reinstatement 
of the Fulbright exchange program with regard to 
Hong Kong at the earliest opportunity; 
(11) to coordinate with allies, including the 
United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the 
Republic of Korea, to promote democracy and 
human rights in Hong Kong; and 
(12) to welcome and protect in the United 
States residents of Hong Kong fleeing persecution or 
otherwise seeking a safe haven from violations by 
the Government of the PRC of the fundamental 
rights of the people of Hong Kong. 
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SEC. 5. TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR HONG KONG 
RESIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of section 244 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1254a), Hong Kong shall be treated as if it had 
been designated under subsection (b)(1)(C) of that 
section, subject to the provisions of this section. 
(2) PERIOD OF DESIGNATION.—The initial pe-
riod of the designation referred to in paragraph (1) 
shall be for the 18-month period beginning on the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) ALIENS ELIGIBLE.—As a result of the designa-
tion made under subsection (a), an alien is deemed to sat-
isfy the requirements under paragraph (1) of section 
244(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1254a(c)), subject to paragraph (3) of such section, if the 
alien— 
(1) was a permanent resident of Hong Kong at 
the time such individual arrived into the United 
States and is a national of the PRC (or in the case 
of an individual having no nationality, is a person 
who last habitually resided in Hong Kong); 
(2) has been continuously physically present in 
the United States since the date of the enactment of 
this Act; 
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(3) is admissible as an immigrant, except as 
otherwise provided in paragraph (2)(A) of such sec-
tion, and is not ineligible for temporary protected 
status under paragraph (2)(B) of such section; and 
(4) registers for temporary protected status in 
a manner established by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security. 
(c) CONSENT TO TRAVEL ABROAD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall give prior consent to travel abroad, in 
accordance with section 244(f)(3) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(f)(3)), to 
an alien who is granted temporary protected status 
pursuant to the designation made under subsection 
(a) if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the 
Secretary of Homeland Security that emergency and 
extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the 
alien require the alien to depart for a brief, tem-
porary trip abroad. 
(2) TREATMENT UPON RETURN.—An alien re-
turning to the United States in accordance with an 
authorization described in paragraph (1) shall be 
treated as any other returning alien provided tem-
porary protected status under section 244 of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a). 
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(d) FEE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any other fee 
authorized by law, the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity is authorized to charge and collect a fee of $360 
for each application for temporary protected status 
under section 244 of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act by a person who is only eligible for such 
status by reason of subsection (a). 
(2) WAIVER.—The Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity shall permit aliens to apply for a waiver of 
any fees associated with filing an application re-
ferred to in paragraph (1). 
SEC. 6. TREATMENT OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS FOR IMMI-
GRATION PURPOSES. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during 
the 5 fiscal year period beginning on the first day of the 
first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, Hong Kong shall continue to be considered a foreign 
state separate and apart from the PRC as mandated 
under section 103 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
of 1990 (Public Law 101–649) for purposes of the numer-
ical limitations on immigrant visas under sections 201, 
202, and 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1151, 1152, and 1153). 
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SEC. 7. VERIFICATION OF HONG KONG PRIORITY RESI-
DENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
shall publish in the Federal Register, an interim final rule 
establishing procedures for designation of Hong Kong Pri-
ority Residents. Notwithstanding section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code, the rule shall be effective, on an in-
terim basis, immediately upon publication, but may be 
subject to change and revision after public notice and op-
portunity for comment. The Secretary of State shall final-
ize such rule not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. Such rule shall establish proce-
dures— 
(1) for individuals to register with any United 
States embassy or consulate outside of the United 
States, or with the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity in the United States, and request designation as 
a Priority Hong Kong Resident; and 
(2) for the appropriate Secretary to verify the 
residency of registered individuals and designate 
those who qualify as Priority Hong Kong Residents. 
(b) DOCUMENTATION.—The procedures described in 
subsection (a) shall include the collection of— 
(1) biometric data; 
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(2) copies of birth certificates, residency cards, 
and other documentation establishing residency; and 
(3) other personal information, data, and 
records deemed appropriate by the Secretary. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
shall issue guidance outlining actions to enhance the abil-
ity of the Secretary to efficiently send and receive informa-
tion to and from the United Kingdom and other like-mind-
ed allies and partners for purposes of rapid verification 
of permanent residency in Hong Kong and designation of 
individuals as Priority Hong Kong Residents. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
submit a report to the House Committees on Foreign Af-
fairs and the Judiciary and the Senate Committees on 
Foreign Relations and the Judiciary detailing plans to im-
plement the requirements described in this subsection. 
(e) PROTECTION FOR REFUGEES.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to prevent a Priority Hong 
Kong Resident from seeking refugee status under section 
207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1157) or requesting asylum under section 208 of such Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1158). 
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SEC. 8. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—On an annual basis, the Secretary 
of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in con-
sultation with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall 
submit a report to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees, detailing for the previous fiscal year— 
(1) the number of Hong Kong SAR residents 
who have applied for U.S. visas or immigration ben-
efits, disaggregated by visa type or immigration ben-
efit, including asylum, refugee status, temporary 
protected status, and lawful permanent residence; 
(2) the number of approvals, denials, or rejec-
tions of applicants for visas or immigration benefits 
described in paragraph (1), disaggregated by visa 
type or immigration benefit and basis for denial; 
(3) the number of pending refugee and asylum 
applications for Hong Kong SAR residents, and the 
length of time and reason for which such applica-
tions have been pending; and 
(4) other matters deemed relevant by the Secre-
taries relating to efforts to protect and facilitate the 
resettlement of refugees and victims of persecution 
in Hong Kong. 
(b) FORM.—Each report under subsection (a) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form and published on a text- 
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searchable, publicly available website of the Department 
of State and the Department of Homeland Security. 
SEC. 9. STRATEGY FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON 
HONG KONG. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United 
States— 
(1) to support the people of Hong Kong by pro-
viding safe haven to Hong Kong SAR residents who 
are nationals of the PRC following the enactment of 
the Hong Kong National Security Law that places 
certain Hong Kong persons at risk of persecution; 
and 
(2) to encourage like-minded nations to make 
similar accommodations for Hong Kong people flee-
ing persecution by the Government of the PRC. 
(b) PLAN.—The Secretary of State, in consultation 
with the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, 
shall develop a plan to engage with other nations, includ-
ing the United Kingdom, on cooperative efforts to— 
(1) provide refugee and asylum protections for 
victims of, and individuals with a fear of, persecu-
tion in Hong Kong, either by Hong Kong authorities 
or other authorities acting on behalf of the PRC; 
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(2) enhance protocols to facilitate the resettle-
ment of refugees and displaced persons from Hong 
Kong; 
(3) identify and prevent the exploitation of im-
migration and visa policies and procedures by cor-
rupt officials; and 
(4) expedite the sharing of information, as ap-
propriate, related to the refusal of individual appli-
cations for visas or other travel documents sub-
mitted by residents of the Hong Kong SAR based 
on— 
(A) national security or related grounds 
under section 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)); or 
(B) fraud or misrepresentation under sec-
tion 212(a)(6)(C) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, as 
appropriate, shall submit a report on the plan described 
in subsection (b) to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees. 
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SEC. 10. REFUGEE STATUS FOR CERTAIN RESIDENTS OF 
HONG KONG. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Aliens described in subsection (b) 
may establish, for purposes of admission as a refugee 
under sections 207 of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) or asylum under section 208 of such 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), that such alien has a well-founded 
fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nation-
ality, membership in a particular social group, or political 
opinion by asserting such a fear and a credible basis for 
concern about the possibility of such persecution. 
(b) ALIENS DESCRIBED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An alien is described in this 
subsection if such alien— 
(A) is a Priority Hong Kong Resident 
and— 
(i) had a significant role in a civil so-
ciety organization supportive of the pro-
tests in 2019 and 2020 related to the 
Hong Kong National Security Law and the 
encroachment on the autonomy of Hong 
Kong by the PRC; 
(ii) was arrested, charged, detained, 
or convicted of an offense arising from 
their participation in an action as de-
scribed in section 206(b)(2) of the United 
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