§5711 Bilateral Ties Between United States and Hong Kong

Summary

The United States should act to support Hong Kong before, on, and after July 1, 1997. It must help keep Hong Kong stable and prosperous, protect its role as a global financial center, and keep strong, friendly ties between Americans and people in Hong Kong. The United States should make and grow direct agreements with Hong Kong in many areas, including economics, trade, finance, money, aviation, shipping, communications, tourism, culture, and sports. The United States should keep its consulate-general in Hong Kong after June 30, 1997 and keep other official or semi-official U.S. bodies there, such as the United States Information Agency American Library. The United States should invite Hong Kong to keep and open official or semi-official missions in the United States, such as the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, the Office of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and the Hong Kong Tourist Association, and to represent itself in the areas where it can act on its own. The United States should accept passports and travel papers issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region after June 30, 1997. If the People’s Republic of China takes back sovereignty after June 30, 1997, that change should not change how Hong Kong residents are treated when they apply for U.S. visitor or immigrant visas, as long as it follows the Immigration and Nationality Act.