Will Trump use threat of closing Hong Kong trade offices as bargaining chip with Beijing?

US President-elect Donald Trump may use legislation aimed at closing Hong Kong’s three trade offices in the country as a bargaining chip in talks with Beijing in the hopes of achieving his foreign policy goals, political watchers have said.

In response to inquiries from the Post about the former president’s political comeback and the implications for the offices, the Hong Kong government stressed on Thursday it attached importance to trade and business ties with both mature and emerging markets.

“We therefore welcome interaction with the US’ trade and business sector,” a government spokesman said. “At the same time, we will continue to actively reach out to different places around the world to promote trade relationships and cultural ties, and tell the good stories of Hong Kong.”

The bipartisan Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act, which passed the House of Representatives in September, must now clear the Senate before it can be sent to the US president and signed into law.

Once enacted, the president will have 30 days to explain to Congress why Hong Kong’s three offices should remain open or lose their privileges. If the president opts for decertification, the missions will be required to close within 180 days.

Veteran political observer Sonny Lo Shiu-hing said passage of the bill would be tied to national security interests and Trump might use his power to shut down the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO) to gain leverage against Beijing, as he was known for prioritising deal-making over ideological principles.