Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office

History

Prior to the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, Hong Kong's commercial interests in its major trade markets were represented by Hong Kong Government Offices – consular matters were handled by the relevant British embassy or high commission. By 1982, the Hong Kong Government Offices, with locations in London, Brussels, Washington and Geneva, were placed under the then Councils and Administration Branch () of the Hong Kong Government.

HKETO Brussels is the second among all HKETOs, marking its 50th anniversary in 2015.

In preparation for the handover, the British and Chinese governments agreed that these offices should be renamed "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices", to make clear that they did not have diplomatic or consular functions. In the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 conferred a number of personal immunity and tax privileges on the HKETO in London.

Similar arrangements were negotiated with other host countries of HKETOs. For instance, the HKETO in Toronto is accredited by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Privileges and Immunities Order, and HKETO in Sydney by the Overseas Missions (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1995.

Hong Kong Free Press revealed that HKTDC paid around HKD $84,000,000 from 2014 to 2020 to US lobbying firms, on behalf of the Hong Kong government, in an attempt to convince US politicians to object to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The lobbyist contracts were signed by the HKTDC, and the HKETO in Washington D.C. gave instructions to the lobbyists.

Functions

Hong Kong has full autonomy in the conduct of its external commercial relations. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong provides that it shall be a separate customs territory and may, using the name 'Hong Kong, China', participate in relevant international organisations and international trade agreements, such as the World Trade Organization.

The HKETOs concentrate most of their work on promoting Hong Kong's economic and trade interests. The major function of HKETOs include:

• Enhancing understanding of Hong Kong among opinion-formers
• Monitoring developments that might affect Hong Kong's economic and trading interests
• Liaising closely with the business and commercial sectors, politicians and the news media.
• Organise events to promote Hong Kong's image
• Regularly meeting with counterparts and contacts in the territories under their purview
• Organizes overseas visits of senior Hong Kong officials

HKETO London serves concurrently as Hong Kong's permanent mission to the International Maritime Organization, HKETO Brussels to the European Union, and HKETO Geneva to the World Trade Organization.

In countries or territories where no HKETO is present, diplomatic missions of China have the duty to represent Hong Kong's interests. Visa applications at these missions are, nevertheless, sent to and processed by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong.

Organisation

Overseas HKETOs are placed under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government. Offices of the Government of the Hong Kong in Beijing and other parts of mainland China are placed under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. The head of the HKETOs are usually called Director.

Privileges and immunities

The privileges and immunities granted to the HKETOs are the result of negotiations with the host governments and these vary from one office to another. In some cases, the host governments (such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany) have granted certain privileges and immunities to the HKETOs through dedicated domestic legislation.

At present, all eleven overseas HKETOs have been granted certain privileges and immunities by respective host governments to facilitate the HKETOs to discharge their duties without intervention. Broadly speaking, the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the HKETOs mainly include the inviolability of premises, official correspondence, archives and documents as well as the exemption of premises and representatives from taxation.

HKETO Berlin (Germany) is the only regional representative office that has a quasi-diplomatic status.

Locations

██ Bangkok office and covered countries

██ Berlin office and covered countries

██ Brussels office and covered countries

██ Jakarta office and covered countries

██ London office and covered countries

██ Singapore office and covered countries

██ Sydney office and covered countries]]

The HKETOs outside of mainland China, particularly those in Europe and Asia, have responsibilities for several countries. Those in the mainland similarly have responsibilities across several provinces.

Mainland China

• Chengdu – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu
  • Chongqing – Chongqing Liaison Unit
  • Xi'an – Shaanxi Liaison Unit
• Guangzhou – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong
  • Fuzhou – Fujian Liaison Unit
  • Shenzhen – Shenzhen Liaison Unit
  • Nanning – Guangxi Liaison Unit
• Shanghai – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai
  • Jinan - Shandong Liaison Unit
  • Hangzhou – Zhejiang Liaison Unit
• Wuhan – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan
  • Changsha – Hunan Liaison Unit
  • Zhengzhou – Henan Liaison Unit

Overseas

• Bangkok – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Bangkok
  • Website: hketobangkok.gov.hk
  • Responsible for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
• Berlin – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin
  • Responsible for Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.
• Brussels – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels
  • Website: hketobrussels.gov.hk
  • Responsible for the European Union and covering also the relations with Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Turkey.
• Dubai - Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai
  • Member states of the GCC
• Geneva – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Geneva
  • Responsible for the WTO and covering also the ISO, the Trade Committee of the OECD and the WMO.
• Jakarta – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta
  • Responsible for the ASEAN and covering also the relations with Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines.
• London – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London
  • Responsible for Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
• New York City – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York
  • Responsible for the 31 eastern states of the US.
• San Francisco – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco
  • Responsible for the 19 western states of the US.
• Singapore – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore
  • Responsible for Singapore, Laos, and Vietnam
• Sydney – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (located in Hong Kong House)
  • Website: hketosydney.gov.hk
  • Responsible for Australia and New Zealand
• Taipei – Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (temporarily suspended)
• Tokyo – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Tokyo
• Toronto – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Toronto
  • Vancouver – Information office
• Washington, D.C. – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Washington, D.C.

References

References

1. [http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr81-82/english/lc_sitg/hansard/h820616.pdf Official report of proceedings, 16 June 1982, Legislative Council]
2. [http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr82-83/english/lc_sitg/hansard/h821111.pdf Official report of proceedings, 11 November 1982, Legislative Council]
3. "【壹錘】部門開心慶金禧 梁特竟斥「特區僅18年」 {{!".
4. [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/63/schedule The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996]
5. Branch, Legislative Services. (2006-03-22). "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Privileges and Immunities Order".
6. [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-96-207/index.html Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Privileges and Immunities Order]
7. (July 2015). "Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government".
8. (2021-04-19). "Exclusive: Inside the Hong Kong govt's multi-million dollar US lobbying operation".
9. (2021-04-19). "Exclusive: Hong Kong gov't spent millions on failed lobbying bid to defeat Washington's Human Rights and Democracy Act".
10. [https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F1997B01641/Explanatory%20Statement/Text Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Privileges and Immunities) Regulations 1996 No. 334]
11. [http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201011/24/P201011240194.htm LCQ14: Privileges and immunities granted to Hong Kong ETOs], Government Information Centre, 24 November 2010
12. [http://www2.china.ahk.de/download/pub/hk/hk_GCcomm201105_03special.pdf Official Opening Ceremony of the HKETO, Berlin],
13. "HKETO Brussels".
14. "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London - About Us".
15. [http://www.gdeto.gov.hk/eng/about/index.htm Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong]
16. "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok commences operation (With photos/Video)".
17. "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin".
18. "HKETO Brussels - Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office".
19. "HKETO Brussels - Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office".
20. "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai commences operation (With photos/Video)".
21. "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London - About Us".
22. "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the United States".
23. "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office San Francisco".
24. "Hketo Singapore".
25. [http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/admin/html/2011/12/20111219_135506.shtml HK's Taiwan trade office opens]