On the recordApril 11, 2013
I rise today to introduce S. 703 with Senator Hatch to fix a technical problem that prevents Hong Kong from joining the Visa Waiver Program. Under current law, only ``countries'' are eligible for the program, and Hong Kong is not a sovereign country, so a special provision needs to be added to the law to make Hong Kong eligible. On July 1, 1997, after over 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China, retaining its own currency, free market economy, political system, civil liberties, and immigration policies. This autonomy was recognized by the United States and affirmed by Congress in passing the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act. Today we have a robust bilateral relationship with Hong Kong, a global financial and trading hub, which was our 10th largest export market last year and whose trade ties are significant for many States. The State Department considers Hong Kong an important law enforcement partner in combating money laundering and eliminating funding for terrorist networks. Despite our visa policies treating it separate from Mainland China, because it is not a ``country,'' Hong Kong is unable to be considered for the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program is an essential tool for promoting travel and tourism to America while protecting national security by allowing precleared business and leisure travelers from 37 countries to visit the U.S.…
