Hong Kong Equal Treatment Act
Sponsored By: Representative Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
Introduced
Summary
Would end special U.S. treatment for Hong Kong relative to mainland China and would create a sanctions regime to punish people who help erase Hong Kong's democratic rights and freedoms.
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- U.S. policy change: Federal agencies would be barred from giving Hong Kong different treatment than the People’s Republic of China. This is a direct rule about how the U.S. treats the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
- Targets of sanctions: The President would be required to sanction foreign persons involved in coercing, arresting, detaining, or imprisoning people under China’s national security law in Hong Kong. The list also covers those who undermine democratic institutions, threaten Hong Kong’s stability or autonomy, censor speech or assembly, or commit serious human rights abuses.
- Scope of penalties: The bill would authorize use of International Emergency Economic Powers Act authority to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property of designated foreign persons when those assets are in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Sanctions for Hong Kong abuses
This bill would require the President to block assets and ban transactions of foreign people tied to abuses in Hong Kong. Covered conduct would include involvement in arrests or detention under the PRC national security law, actions that undermine Hong Kong’s democratic processes or autonomy, censorship limiting free expression or media, and extrajudicial rendition, arbitrary detention, torture, or other serious human rights abuses. It would also cover leaders of offending entities and those who assist, own, control, or serve as senior officers of blocked entities. The President would be directed to use authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to block property in the United States and bar transactions with U.S. persons. This requirement would take effect upon enactment.
Remove special U.S. treatment for Hong Kong
This bill would prohibit the United States Government from treating Hong Kong differently than the People’s Republic of China. Agencies would no longer be allowed to give Hong Kong special treatment under U.S. law. The prohibition would apply notwithstanding any other law and would take effect upon enactment. This could change how U.S. rules, benefits, and policies apply to people and companies linked to Hong Kong.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov