Advertisement
Hong Kong to seek administrative measures to protect same-sex couple rights
City leader also says ill-fated bill shows Legco is not ‘rubber stamp’, as some ‘unfairly’ suggest
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
23
Hong Kong authorities are considering administrative measures to protect the rights of same-sex couples after a bill to recognise such partnerships was rejected by the legislature, the city’s leader has said.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday that the failure of the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill to secure the backing of lawmakers showed the Legislative Council was not a “rubber stamp” body as some had “unfairly” suggested.
Legislators last week voted down the government’s bill, which would have recognised same-sex partnerships in the city and granted some core rights to couples in line with a landmark court ruling from 2023.
Advertisement
It marked the first time a government bill had failed to get a green light from lawmakers since Beijing overhauled the electoral system to have only “patriots administering Hong Kong”.
Before a meeting of his key decision-making Executive Council, Lee told reporters that same-sex partnerships remained a “contentious issue” in Hong Kong.
Advertisement
“One thing is very clear: the only marriage that is recognised under the Basic Law is heterosexual … That principle has not changed and will not be changed,” he said, referring to the city’s mini-constitution.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x