Wed Sep 11 09:33:30 UTC 2024: ## US Bill Threatens to Close Hong Kong Trade Offices, Sparks Outrage

**Hong Kong and China have condemned a new US bill that could force the closure of Hong Kong’s economic and trade offices in the United States.**

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification (HKETO) Act, passed by the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, would require a review of the privileges, exemptions, and immunities enjoyed by Hong Kong’s trade offices in New York, Washington, and San Francisco. If these offices are deemed to not operate with a high degree of autonomy from China, they would be forced to close within 180 days.

Hong Kong’s Secretary of Commerce, Algernon Yau, has called the bill “purely political” and a “slander” against the city’s national security law. The Hong Kong government has condemned the bill as a “fact-twisting attack” that “grossly interferes” in their affairs.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, echoed this sentiment, labeling the bill as a “hostile action” that “deliberately tarnishes Hong Kong’s overseas institutions.” She urged the US to stop advancing the bill, warning that it could harm the stability and development of China-US relations. China also vowed to take “practical and effective measures” in retaliation if the US persists with the bill.

The bill, which still needs Senate approval before it can be signed into law by President Biden, comes amidst growing tension between the US and China over Hong Kong. The former British colony, once hailed as a bastion of freedom, has witnessed a decline in its international standing following the imposition of a national security law in 2020, effectively silencing opposition voices and cracking down on dissent.

The US State Department issued an advisory last week warning businesses operating in Hong Kong about the heightened risks due to the enactment of a second security law in March, further curtailing freedoms. The new law targets offences such as sedition and espionage and has been criticized by the US for further limiting freedoms in Hong Kong.

The fate of the HKETO Act and its potential impact on Hong Kong’s trade offices remain uncertain. However, the bill’s passage has sparked intense backlash from Hong Kong and China, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the city’s political and economic future.

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