US House Passes Bill That Could Determine Fate of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices; Hong Kong Government Strongly Condemns It
美眾議員通過影響經貿辦廢存《認證法》 港府：強烈譴責
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London became embroiled in an espionage case in May this year, prompting questions in US political circles about the role of the offices. The US House of Representatives passed the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act by an overwhelming vote of 413 to 3. The bill requires the executive branch to certify whether the three Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Washington, New York and San Francisco may continue to enjoy their current privileges and immunities. If certification is not granted, the offices must cease operations within 180 days. The bill will next be submitted to the Senate for a vote. In a late-night statement, the Hong Kong government strongly condemned the bill for defaming Hong Kong’s laws safeguarding national security and smearing the city’s human rights situation. It said the United States has “significant economic interests” in Hong Kong, and warned that if the US insists on proceeding, it will damage relations between the two sides and ultimately harm the interests of the United States and its businesses.
香港駐倫敦經貿辦今年5月捲入間諜案，引起美國政壇對經貿辦角色的質疑。美國眾議院以壓倒性413票對3票，通過《香港經濟貿易辦事處認證法》，法案要求行政部門認證在華盛頓、紐約及三藩市的3個香港經貿辦是否可以延長目前享有的特權及豁免，若不獲確認，經貿辦須在180日內停止運作。法案接下來將送交參議院表決。港府在深夜發聲明，強烈譴責法案詆毁香港維護國家安全法律，以及抹黑香港人權狀況，並指美國在港有「重大經濟利益」，若美方一意孤行，將破壞兩方關係，最終損害美國及其企業的利益。