Latest news with #MingPao
France 24
9 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Hong Kong govt proposes limited recognition of same-sex couples' rights
The city's top judges had unanimously defined marriage as "confined to opposite-sex couples" in September 2023. But the same ruling also ordered the government to create an "alternative framework" within two years that recognises same-sex couples' legal rights. In a policy paper published on Wednesday, the Hong Kong government wrote that it "recommends legislation to allow same-sex couples to apply for registration under a newly established registration mechanism". The proposal is limited to healthcare-related rights -- such as hospital visits, making medical decisions, sharing medical information and organ donation -- and rights related to a deceased person's body. To be eligible, adult couples must have been lawfully married abroad, with at least one person a Hong Kong resident. "There are different views in society regarding the legal recognition of same-sex couples' relationships," the government added. "We must make careful deliberations and... strike a balance, to avoid causing social rifts and affecting social harmony." The 2023 top court ruling was in response to a legal challenge by LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham, who recently completed his prison sentence over an unrelated national security offence. Sham said limiting eligibility to same-sex couples with overseas-registered marriages would create financial and practical hurdles. It "seems not to comply with the principle of equality, and I am doubtful if it complies with the court's ruling", he told AFP. Sham said he did not understand how the government narrowed down to two categories of rights and argued for including more, such as those related to insurance policies and private property that he said would not cost taxpayer dollars. "I hope there will be public hearings in the legislature to accommodate different voices, to show that Hong Kong is actually very diverse," he added. 'Inherently unfair' Jerome Yau, co-founder of the advocacy group Hong Kong Marriage Equality, said the eligibility restrictions were "inherently unfair and could lead to further litigation". Yau said his group previously submitted views to the government but he was not aware of any public consultation on the issue. Lawmakers will discuss the issue on Thursday, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang told journalists, according to local newspaper Ming Pao. He declined to specify a target date for passing the bill. Hong Kong reformed its legislature in 2021 so that only those loyal to Beijing can hold office, ousting pro-democracy lawmakers en masse. Members of the pro-Beijing camp have spoken out against legal recognition of same-sex couples' rights, insisting that Hong Kong society only tolerates marriage between a man and a woman. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that the proposal will "open a Pandora's box and cause endless disputes in society". But support for same-sex marriage in Hong Kong has grown over the past decade and hit 60 percent in 2023, according to a survey conducted jointly by three universities. Last year, LGBTQ rights activists notched another legal victory with the top court affirming housing and inheritance rights for same-sex couples. Wednesday's policy document does not mention rights related to housing, inheritance or taxes. More than 30 countries around the world have legalised marriage equality since the Netherlands became the first to do so in 2001. China is not among them, nor does it have specific laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people. © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Hong Kong Govt Proposes Limited Recognition Of Same-sex Couples' Rights
The Hong Kong government said Wednesday it will propose legislation to recognise a limited set of rights for same-sex couples whose marriages are registered abroad, as it seeks to comply with a landmark court ruling. The city's top judges had unanimously defined marriage as "confined to opposite-sex couples" in September 2023. But the same ruling also ordered the government to create an "alternative framework" within two years that recognises same-sex couples' legal rights. In a policy paper published on Wednesday, the Hong Kong government wrote that it "recommends legislation to allow same-sex couples to apply for registration under a newly established registration mechanism". The proposal is limited to healthcare-related rights -- such as hospital visits, making medical decisions, sharing medical information and organ donation -- and rights related to a deceased person's body. To be eligible, adult couples must have been lawfully married abroad, with at least one person a Hong Kong resident. "There are different views in society regarding the legal recognition of same-sex couples' relationships," the government added. "We must make careful deliberations and... strike a balance, to avoid causing social rifts and affecting social harmony." The 2023 top court ruling was in response to a legal challenge by LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham, who recently completed his prison sentence over an unrelated national security offence. Sham said limiting eligibility to same-sex couples with overseas-registered marriages would create financial and practical hurdles. It "seems not to comply with the principle of equality, and I am doubtful if it complies with the court's ruling", he told AFP. Sham said he did not understand how the government narrowed down to two categories of rights and argued for including more, such as those related to insurance policies and private property that he said would not cost taxpayer dollars. "I hope there will be public hearings in the legislature to accommodate different voices, to show that Hong Kong is actually very diverse," he added. Jerome Yau, co-founder of the advocacy group Hong Kong Marriage Equality, said the eligibility restrictions were "inherently unfair and could lead to further litigation". Yau said his group previously submitted views to the government but he was not aware of any public consultation on the issue. Lawmakers will discuss the issue on Thursday, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang told journalists, according to local newspaper Ming Pao. He declined to specify a target date for passing the bill. Hong Kong reformed its legislature in 2021 so that only those loyal to Beijing can hold office, ousting pro-democracy lawmakers en masse. Members of the pro-Beijing camp have spoken out against legal recognition of same-sex couples' rights, insisting that Hong Kong society only tolerates marriage between a man and a woman. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that the proposal will "open a Pandora's box and cause endless disputes in society". But support for same-sex marriage in Hong Kong has grown over the past decade and hit 60 percent in 2023, according to a survey conducted jointly by three universities. Last year, LGBTQ rights activists notched another legal victory with the top court affirming housing and inheritance rights for same-sex couples. Wednesday's policy document does not mention rights related to housing, inheritance or taxes. More than 30 countries around the world have legalised marriage equality since the Netherlands became the first to do so in 2001. China is not among them, nor does it have specific laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
US Independence Day event no threat to Hong Kong security: consulate chief
HONG KONG: The top American diplomat in Hong Kong defended US Independence Day celebrations as 'perfectly normal' on Thursday after local education officials reportedly warned teachers and students to stay clear due to national security risks. Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020, which critics say has quelled dissent and eroded rights, and ties have further strained during the latest US-China competition. US Consul General Gregory May said he was 'disappointed' as the consulate regularly interacts with schools. 'I challenge any of you to find anything about this event... that would in any way violate the national security of any country,' May told a reception marking the July 4th anniversary. Several schools got notices from education officials to keep pupils away from consulate-hosted US Independence Day events and avoid breaching the security law, local newspaper Ming Pao reported last week. The Education Bureau did not confirm or deny the report, only saying on Tuesday that 'schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security'. A US consulate spokesperson condemned the move as 'repression'. Guests at Thursday's reception included Hong Kong's commerce and economic development chief Algernon Yau and former city leader Donald Tsang. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip, who convenes the government's cabinet, told AFP on Wednesday that the Bureau made an 'oversimplification, causing unnecessary concern'. May, who will soon become deputy head of the US embassy in Beijing, also bemoaned the treatment of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and other 'political prisoners', saying Hong Kongers have been jailed for peaceful expression of views. Lai, 77, is in the middle of a lengthy trial for foreign collusion charges under the national security law and has been in custody since 2020. May criticised the Hong Kong government for 'transnational repression', referring to police bounties issued against 19 overseas pro-democracy activists. 'This is an attempt to restrict the free speech of people in the United States,' he said, adding that it was 'very disturbing' that authorities have targeted the activists' families in Hong Kong.
Int'l Business Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
US Independence Day Event No Threat To Hong Kong Security: Consulate Chief
The top American diplomat in Hong Kong defended US Independence Day celebrations as "perfectly normal" on Thursday after local education officials reportedly warned teachers and students to stay clear due to national security risks. Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020, which critics say has quelled dissent and eroded rights, and ties have further strained during the latest US-China competition. US Consul General Gregory May said he was "disappointed" as the consulate regularly interacts with schools. "I challenge any of you to find anything about this event... that would in any way violate the national security of any country," May told a reception marking the July 4th anniversary. Several schools got notices from education officials to keep pupils away from consulate-hosted US Independence Day events and avoid breaching the security law, local newspaper Ming Pao reported last week. The Education Bureau did not confirm or deny the report, only saying on Tuesday that "schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security". A US consulate spokesperson condemned the move as "repression". Guests at Thursday's reception included Hong Kong's commerce and economic development chief Algernon Yau and former city leader Donald Tsang. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip, who convenes the government's cabinet, told AFP on Wednesday that the Bureau made an "oversimplification, causing unnecessary concern". May, who will soon become deputy head of the US embassy in Beijing, also bemoaned the treatment of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and other "political prisoners", saying Hong Kongers have been jailed for peaceful expression of views. Lai, 77, is in the middle of a lengthy trial for foreign collusion charges under the national security law and has been in custody since 2020. May criticised the Hong Kong government for "transnational repression", referring to police bounties issued against 19 overseas pro-democracy activists. "This is an attempt to restrict the free speech of people in the United States," he said, adding that it was "very disturbing" that authorities have targeted the activists' families in Hong Kong. Hong Kong education officials reportedly told teachers and students to avoid US Independence Day events due to national security risks AFP US-Hong Kong relations frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020 AFP
France 24
7 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
US Independence Day event no threat to Hong Kong security: consulate chief
Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020, which critics say has quelled dissent and eroded rights, and ties have further strained during the latest US-China competition. US Consul General Gregory May said he was "disappointed" as the consulate regularly interacts with schools. "I challenge any of you to find anything about this event... that would in any way violate the national security of any country," May told a reception marking the July 4th anniversary. Several schools got notices from education officials to keep pupils away from consulate-hosted US Independence Day events and avoid breaching the security law, local newspaper Ming Pao reported last week. The Education Bureau did not confirm or deny the report, only saying on Tuesday that "schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security". A US consulate spokesperson condemned the move as "repression". Guests at Thursday's reception included Hong Kong's commerce and economic development chief Algernon Yau and former city leader Donald Tsang. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip, who convenes the government's cabinet, told AFP on Wednesday that the Bureau made an "oversimplification, causing unnecessary concern". May, who will soon become deputy head of the US embassy in Beijing, also bemoaned the treatment of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and other "political prisoners", saying Hong Kongers have been jailed for peaceful expression of views. Lai, 77, is in the middle of a lengthy trial for foreign collusion charges under the national security law and has been in custody since 2020. May criticised the Hong Kong government for "transnational repression", referring to police bounties issued against 19 overseas pro-democracy activists. "This is an attempt to restrict the free speech of people in the United States," he said, adding that it was "very disturbing" that authorities have targeted the activists' families in Hong Kong. © 2025 AFP
