New Hong Kong Watch policy paper calls for host countries to review the status and rebrand Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices
A new policy paper published by Hong Kong Watch today examines the basis for and status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) around the world. The research has found that multiple HKETOs (Brussels, London, Berlin, Toronto, Sydney, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC) have similar privileges and immunities to diplomatic embassies and consulates, even when the host country also has a People's Republic of China (PRC) embassy and consulates.
HKETOs use events, campaigns, and bilateral engagements to manage Hong Kong SAR’s image and promote economic and cultural exchange overseas. Their work increasingly follows Beijing´s narrative of Hong Kong SAR, using concepts such as the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to promote Hong Kong SAR as a gateway to the PRC. This replaces previous narratives such as One Country Two Systems which presented Hong Kong SAR as a unique, autonomous place. This is synonymous with the changes in the PRC-Hong Kong SAR relationship and Hong Kong SAR´s decreasing autonomy.
Furthermore, as Hong Kong SAR is increasingly under the direct political control of Beijing and the three branches of the Hong Kong SAR government are now politically under the direct control of Beijing, HKETOs as Hong Kong SAR government agencies are under the indirect control of Beijing. They can be seen as additional PRC embassies, managing Hong Kong SAR’s image, publicly supporting the National Security Law and ongoing crackdown on human rights and promoting exchanges in a way that follows Beijing’s own narratives. They are able to do so in a different way from Beijing and its embassies, given their separate name and reputation.
Hong Kong Watch recommends:
That all countries review the status, privileges, and immunities of HKETOs in each country, and international lawmakers should propose that maintaining the status of HKETOs depends on Beijing not exercising more control over Hong Kong SAR.
Additionally, the closure and ending of cooperation with Confucius Institutes could serve as a model for HKETOs.
Finally, the special treatment of Hong Kong SAR, including bilateral treaties, its representative to the EU, WTO, and IMO should be reviewed.
The report’s author, Hong Kong Watch Research and Policy Advisor, Anouk Wear, said:
“The National Security Law in Hong Kong has not only destroyed basic rights and freedoms, but has supplanted the autonomy of the HKSAR and their representatives abroad, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, that now indirectly represent the interests of the PRC.
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices are used today to exert PRC influence abroad in cultural and business spheres to justify the ongoing crackdown and imposition of the National Security Law.
Host countries should review the status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, remove their privileges, and where appropriate close these offices, as it becomes increasingly hard to justify the PRC having two de-facto embassies in one country.”
The full report can be read here.