Latest news with #Pro-Beijing
France 24
7 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
8 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 Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hong Kong rights record under scrutiny as it marks China handover anniversary
Pro-Beijing supporters hold Chinese and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags to mark the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule in Hong Kong, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. - AP HONG KONG: Hong Kong leader John Lee said on Tuesday (July 1) the city has become safer and more competitive as it marks its 28th year under Chinese rule, although critics including the EU decried the use of a "repressive" security law. The former British colony was handed over to China in 1997 under a "One Country, Two Systems" governance model, which guaranteed key freedoms and a high degree of autonomy not enjoyed on the mainland. July 1 in Hong Kong had been marked in previous years by demonstrations but authorities have cracked down on dissent after huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019. Lee said "high-level security to safeguard high-quality development" was a top priority for his administration, noting the need to integrate into China's economic blueprint. The city this week also marked the fifth anniversary of Beijing's imposition of a sweeping national security law, under which 76 people have been convicted so far, imposed after the 2019 protests. Lee's government enacted a separate security law of its own in 2024 that authorities say is needed to restore order. "We have rebuilt a safe Hong Kong," Lee said in a speech. However, the European Union said on Monday "the repressive use of the National Security Law has undermined confidence in the rule of law and Hong Kong's international reputation". "The European Union regrets that additional national security legislation... introduced new offences, increased penalties and further empowered security authorities," it said in a statement. The League of Social Democrats, one of Hong Kong's last remaining opposition parties, disbanded on Sunday citing "immense political pressure" and concern for the safety of its members. It was the second pro-democracy party to announce plans to wind down this year, following the Democratic Party in February. Authorities say that Hong Kong residents continue to enjoy rights and freedoms guaranteed under its Basic Law constitution, although such rights are not absolute. - AFP
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Hong Kong's democracy movement marks a somber July 1 – DW – 06/30/2025
Citizens of Hong Kong used to rally for democracy every July 1. The National Security Law has kept the streets quiet for the last five years, but the movement's fading slogans still echo in people's minds. "For over 10 years, July 1 meant protest — walking the streets for universal suffrage and other demands, running into familiar faces, ending the day with a drink or dinner. It felt like we were trying to build a better society," says Vinze, 40, a Hongkonger who asked not to use his real name. July 1 is the date when UK rule in Hong Kong ended and the city rejoined China in 1997, with Beijing pledging to give it broad autonomy under the "one country, two systems" policy. For many years, liberal citizens of Hong Kong marked July 1 by marching against what they saw as government overreach. But Beijing was undeterred — in the summer of 2020, the authorities imposed the National Security Law, abruptly shrinking the space for public expression. Then, in 2024, Hong Kong cemented the shift with Article 23 which expands police power, allows for closed trials, and focuses on treason, sedition and state secrets. The new law extinguished nearly all possibility for protest. For Chief Executive John Lee, these changes meant that the city "has returned to normalcy." "Stability has been restored," Lee insisted. "I stopped going in 2020, when marches were no longer allowed. Now it's just red flags and celebration. Maybe this is what numbness feels like — just another holiday," Vinze told DW. "Looking back, it almost feels romantic — that we once believed we could ask the government for change." On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the National Security Law — just one day before July 1 — Hong Kong's last active pro-democracy group, the League of Social Democrats, announced its disbandment. "Many of us have already served time," said the group's chair, Chan Po-ying. "We didn't continue because we were strong in numbers — we kept going because we believed in what we stood for." "For the sake of our members and those who've stood beside us," Chan said, "we've had to make this painful decision." Even the annual flag-raising ceremony is now closed to the public. Attendance is restricted to government officials and vetted participants. Some performances are pre-recorded. The entire scene is tightly managed. A group of students said they were taken to a stadium in Hung Hom to record a performance for July 1. "The teacher said there'd be no audience. Security is high," said one teenage performer. Her schoolmate was surprised: "Really? I didn't know it was for July 1." Another added, softly: "Wait, what's July 1?" Across the city, patriotic imagery fills public spaces — in transport hubs, museums, shopping malls. Along Victoria Harbour, fishing vessels take part in a cruise tour organized by the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium — a local fishermen's association that works closely with government departments. Pro-Beijing supporters are waving their flags at the waterfront. "I'm not Chinese, but I feel very proud of Hong Kong and support its development as part of China," said a mother and professional in her 40s who has lived in the city for over a decade. "There's potential for 'One Country' to bring real synergy and community growth. But I worry that the way the National Security Law is enforced could ultimately slow Hong Kong's progress." Since 2019, more than 10,200 people have been arrested in relation to the pro-democracy protests. More than 300 have been detained under national security charges. Thirteen prominent activists now live in exile, with bounties on their heads. Chan Po-ying, of the now-disbanded League of Social Democrats, describes the political pressure as "overwhelming." Asked why the announcement came now, she pauses: "We can only say — 無何奈何 — There was no other way." Still, the activists say their principles remain unchanged — urging others to keep the flame of dissent alive. Elsewhere in the city, a protest slogan lingers, barely visible beneath layers of paint. It seeps into an atmosphere of control, into the spaces between what is said and what is remembered.
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement hiding between the lines – DW – 06/30/2025
Citizens of Hong Kong used to rally for more democracy every July 1. The National Security Law has kept the streets quiet for the last five years, but the movement's fading slogans still echo in people's minds. "For over ten years, July 1 meant protest — walking the streets for universal suffrage and other demands, running into familiar faces, ending the day with a drink or dinner. It felt like we were trying to build a better society," says Vinze, 40, a Hongkonger who asked not to use his real name. July 1 is the date when UK rule in Hong Kong ended and the city rejoined China in 1997, with Beijing pledging to give it a wide autonomy under the "One country, two systems" policy. For many years, liberal citizens of Hong Kong marked July 1 by marching against what they saw as government overreach. But Beijing was undeterred — in the summer of 2020, the authorities imposed the controversial National Security Law, abruptly shrinking the space for public expression. Then, in 2024, Hong Kong cemented the shift with Article 23 which expands police power, allows for closed trials and focuses on treason, sedition and state secrets. The new law extinguished nearly all possibility for protest. For Chief Executive John Lee, these changes meant that the city "has returned to normalcy." "Stability has been restored," Lee insisted. "I stopped going in 2020, when marches were no longer allowed. Now it's just red flags and celebration. Maybe this is what numbness feels like — just another holiday," Vinze told DW. "Looking back, it almost feels romantic — that we once believed we could ask the government for change." On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the National Security Law — just one day before July 1 — Hong Kong's last active pro-democracy group, the League of Social Democrats, announced its disbandment. "Many of us have already served time," said the group's chair Chan Po-ying. "We didn't continue because we were strong in numbers — we kept going because we believed in what we stood for." "For the sake of our members and those who've stood beside us, we've had to make this painful decision." Even the annual flag-raising ceremony is now closed to the public. Attendance is restricted to government officials and vetted participants. Some performances are pre-recorded. The entire scene is tightly managed. A group of students said they were taken to a stadium in Hung Hom to record a performance for July 1. "The teacher said there'd be no audience. Security is high," said one teenage performer. Her schoolmate was surprised: "Really? I didn't know it was for July 1." Another added, softly: "Wait, what's July 1?" Across the city, patriotic imagery fills public spaces — in transport hubs, museums, shopping malls. Along Victoria Harbour, fishing vessels take part in a cruise tour organized by the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium — a local fishermen's association that works closely with government departments. Pro-Beijing supporters are waving their flags at the waterfront. "I'm not Chinese, but I feel very proud of Hong Kong and support its development as part of China," said a mother and professional in her 40s who has lived in the city for over a decade. "There's potential for 'One Country' to bring real synergy and community growth. But I worry that the way the National Security Law is enforced could ultimately slow Hong Kong's progress." Since 2019, over 10,200 people have been arrested over the pro-democracy protests. More than 300 have been detained under national security charges. Thirteen prominent activists now live in exile, with bounties on their heads. Chan Po-ying of the now-disbanded League of Social Democrats describes the political pressure as "overwhelming." Asked why the announcement came now, she pauses. "We can only say — 無何奈何 — There was no other way." Still, the activists say their principles remain unchanged — urging others to keep the flame of dissent alive. Elsewhere in the city, a protest slogan lingers — barely visible beneath layers of paint. It seeps into an atmosphere of control, into the spaces between what is said and what is remembered.
