Hong Kong Legislative Council Rejects Rights for Same-Sex Couples

Lawmakers in Hong Kong have rejected a controversial bill that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples, in a blow to the city's gay rights movement.

The law, which would have recognized some rights for couples who were married overseas, was opposed by 71 of the city's 89-member Legislative Council (LegCo).

It was proposed by the government to comply with a 2023 court ruling, following the rejection of an attempt to legalize same-sex marriage.

While the city has in recent years been perceived as becoming gay-friendly, it has limited rights for the estimated 6% of the adult population who identify as LGBTQ. Recent polls suggest there is rising support towards the community.

Human rights group Amnesty International criticized the rejection of the bill, saying that it showed an alarming disdain for LGBTQ rights, and urged Hong Kong authorities to introduce a new and revised bill.

Hong Kong LGBTQ rights activist Jimmy Sham said it was deeply regrettable that the bill did not pass and that the government's inability to protect same-sex couples rights would remain an open wound.

The bill stemmed from a long-running legal challenge to legalise same-sex marriage initiated by Sham, who had wanted official recognition of his marriage to his husband. The pair were married in New York in 2013.

The Hong Kong's top court shot this down in 2023, but in a partial victory for activists, the Court of Final Appeal said at the time that the Hong Kong government had to formulate an alternative framework within two years to recognise unions between members of the same sex.

The bill proposed a registration system for same-sex couples who were married or had civil unions overseas, allowing them rights such as hospital visits and making medical decisions for a spouse.

Despite support from Chief Executive John Lee, who warned that a rejection would violate Hong Kong’s rule of law, the bill faced backlash from both LGBTQ activists and conservative LegCo members.

This marks a rare split between the legislature and the Hong Kong government, signaling challenges ahead for proponents of LGBTQ rights as public support grows for marriage equality.