Two Republican lawmakers proposed to remove the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the United States

U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio (Marco Rubio) said on December 15 that he and his fellow Congressman Chris Smith (Chris Smith) proposed a bill in Congress to remove the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (referred to as the Economic and Trade Office) in the United States. End the privileges and immunities they currently enjoy.

U.S. Republican Senator Rubio and his fellow Congressman Smith proposed to remove the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the United States (screenshot of press release)

Rubio issued a press release on the 15th stating that he and Smith proposed the "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act" (Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act), which means that after Hong Kong loses its autonomy, it is required to re-evaluate the United States' approval of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

The press release stated that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office was influenced by the Chinese Communist Party, and that the United States no longer recognizes Hong Kong as autonomous under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.

U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio attends an election campaign on November 8, 2022 (Getty)

The press release stated that the bill will require the president to determine whether the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the United States deserves to extend the privileges and immunities they currently hold within 30 days of the bill's enactment.

If the President determines that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office does not enjoy diplomatic immunity, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office will cease to operate within 6 months.

The article also pointed out that if the president decides that the HKETO is worthy of extending the privileges, Congress has the power to propose a resolution of disapproval. If the resolution is passed, it will force the government to revoke the privileges granted to the HKETO.

The bill would also require the president to make a decision every year.

Hong Kong currently has economic and trade offices in Washington, New York and San Francisco.

Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang: China and the United States should continue to promote economic and trade exchanges to assist the economic development of the two countries. Chinese and American officials met in Hebei to discuss Blinken's visit to China.