Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73
§5712 Participation in multilateral organizations, rights under international agreements, and trade status
Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 66— - UNITED STATES-HONG KONG POLICY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - POLICY › § 5712
Summary
The United States should follow these policies for Hong Kong after June 30, 1997. It should support Hong Kong taking part in any multilateral meetings, agreements, or organizations it is eligible for; keep U.S. international obligations to Hong Kong while Hong Kong does the same unless changed by law; and treat Hong Kong as a separate customs territory and as a WTO member even if the People’s Republic of China is not.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §5712
Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
It is the sense of the Congress that the following, which are based in part on the relevant provisions of the Joint Declaration, should be the policy of the United States with respect to Hong Kong after June 30, 1997:
(1)The United States should support Hong Kong’s participation in all appropriate multilateral conferences, agreements, and organizations in which Hong Kong is eligible to participate.
(2)The United States should continue to fulfill its obligations to Hong Kong under international agreements, so long as Hong Kong reciprocates, regardless of whether the People’s Republic of China is a party to the particular international agreement, unless and until such obligations are modified or terminated in accordance with law.
(3)The United States should respect Hong Kong’s status as a separate customs territory, and as a WTO member country (as defined in section 3501(10) of title 19), whether or not the People’s Republic of China participates in the World Trade Organization (as defined in section 3501(8) of title 19).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1999—Par. (3). Pub. L. 106–36 substituted “WTO member country (as defined in section 3501(10) of title 19)” for “contracting party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade” and “World Trade Organization (as defined in section 3501(8) of title 19)” for “latter organization”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 5712
Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73