The US House of Representatives approved the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act, which will be sent to the US Senate for voting.

The administration department will need to authenticate within 30 days of the effective date of the bill whether the three Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) in Washington, New York and San Francisco can extend the privileges and immunities currently enjoyed by them.

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If the US government certifies that the three HKETOs should no longer enjoy such diplomatic treatment, the three HKETOs will cease operation within 180 days.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government strongly condemned the US House of Representatives for making use of the Act to slander laws on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong and smear the human rights situation in Hong Kong.

The US House of Representatives' fact-twisting attack on Hong Kong is politically driven, violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and grossly interferes in the affairs of Hong Kong. The HKSAR refutes this action resolutely and condemns it strongly.

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In fact, the US enjoys significant economic benefits in Hong Kong. The US has realized a trade surplus of US$271.5 billion with Hong Kong during the past 10 years, the largest among its global trading partners, and more than 1,200 US companies have set up businesses in Hong Kong.

If the US insists on undermining the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US through the so-called Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act, it will ultimately harm the interests of the US and its companies.