United States · Bill · S
S. 490 (118th)
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act
Introduced
16 February 2023
Last action
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Status
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 148.
Sponsors
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Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
5 December 2025
Summary
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act This bill requires the President to periodically determine whether to allow the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) to continue to operate in the United States. (The HKETOs are the official representative offices for Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous city that was established as a British colony in 1841. The United Kingdom transferred sovereignty over Hong Kong to China in 1997). Under this bill, the President must periodically (at least once a year) certify to Congress a determination as to whether the HKETOs should be covered by the International Organizations Immunities Act. (The act provides immunities and privileges to certain international organizations, such as immunity from certain lawsuits and exemption from property taxes.) If the President certifies that the HKETOs no longer merit receiving such privileges and immunities, the HKETOs must terminate operations in the United States no later than 180 days after the certification is delivered to Congress. If the President certifies that the HKETOs continue to merit such privileges and immunities, the HKETOs may continue operations for another year, unless Congress enacts a joint resolution disapproving of the certification. The President may also revoke the application of such privileges and immunities to the HKETOs. A federal government entity may enter into an agreement or partnership with an HKETO only if the HKETOs are still authorized to operate in the United States under this bill.
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Documents
5 official files
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 25 July 2023
Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 25 July 2023
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 16 February 2023
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 16 February 2023
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 16 February 2023
Sponsors
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Related records
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Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/490
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/118/s/490