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The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Creating inequality': Hong Kong's same-sex marriage registration proposal criticised
Dino Wong and Geoffrey Yu count themselves among the lucky ones. The Hong Kong couple were married in 2019, in a hastily arranged trip to the US Pacific territory of Guam. The couple, who had been together for about five years and wanted to marry, were spurred to take advantage of amended tax-exemption laws that finally recognised same-sex couples. 'I was a student and he was a doctor, so it helped a lot,' laughs Wong, now a clinical psychologist. The couple flew to the tropical island for the formalities, and then returned home for a giant banquet with family and friends. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Hong Kong. But a series of court cases have slowly established some piecemeal rights for LGBTQ+ couples in the city, including those related to public housing, inheritance law and spousal visas. The small wins have made life a little bit easier for couples like Wong and Yu, even if they have sometimes had to fly to Guam to access them. But most of these gains have been hard fought through the legal system, with activists and others bringing the government to court. While polls show public support for LGBTQ+ rights and relationships is growing in Hong Kong, the political system has gone the other way, and progressive wins are getting harder in a legislature now more dominated by conservative voices. One of the most significant wins was a September 2023 ruling by the court of final appeal, which affirmed that the city's laws defined marriage as between a man and a woman, but also said the government was obliged to create an 'alternative framework' which recognised the 'core rights' of same-sex couples. The ruling, in a case brought by the activist Jimmy Sham, gave a deadline of two years. Last week, with just months to go, the government released its proposal for the framework, but it was quickly accused of barely reaching the minimum of what was ordered. The proposal suggests a new 'registration mechanism' for same-sex couples, which would then grant them some healthcare-related rights including those relating to hospital visits, medical decisions and information access, organ donation approvals, and after-death arrangements. It did not address other 'core rights' that were expected to be included, such as housing, and it said the registry would only be available to a limited subset of same-sex couples: those where at least one partner was a Hong Kong resident, and the marriage or partnership was registered overseas. Advocates say it is a pained attempt to offer as little as possible while still complying with the order, and would create a two-tier system that only benefited couples with the financial means to go overseas or draw up legal documents to protect the rights offered by the registry. 'The government is creating inequality, making it polarised,' says Wong. The advocacy group Hong Kong Marriage Equality said the proposal did little to close the gap on the more than 100 instances of differential treatment based on relationship status across 21 areas of law, as identified by the equal opportunities commission. 'Any protection is better than none. But the proposal, as it stands, falls well short of providing the full and equal recognition that all couples and families deserve,' it said, and raised specific concern over the 'unfair' requirement that eligible couples must be registered in another country. 'We'd be in this peculiar situation where in order to enjoy a right we'd need to go through this extra step of having a relationship recognised overseas first, which is contingent on the sovereignty of another nation,' the group's co-founder Jerome Yau told the Guardian. Wong and Yu's Guam marriage means they will be able to register. 'I will still do it because I want to take advantage of this system to tell the others that, oh, the government finally recognised gay couples' existence,' says Wong. That limited recognition, however, has displeased conservative legislators, who have objected to the current proposal. The document had noted 'different views' on same-sex marriage and said it sought to strike a balance 'to avoid causing social divisions and affecting social harmony'. It also emphasised that the registered relationships were 'not equivalent to marriage'. Nevertheless the legislator Holden Chow told a committee discussion on Thursday that while his pro-Beijing DAB party opposed discrimination, they felt the proposed system threatened Hong Kong's traditional family values, RTHK reported. 'Textbooks would then need to teach the next generation that Hong Kong allows the registration of same-sex marriages,' Chow said. The pro-Beijing legislator Priscilla Leung called it a 'dark day' for traditional values, and warned against Hong Kong following 'the so-called LGBTQ trend' of other countries, calling on the government to ask to courts for a deadline extension. After Thursday's discussion, the secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, Erick Tsang, reportedly said more improvements would be made to gain legislators' support. Even if implemented, neither Wong or Yu feel under any illusion that this is a big leap forward for marriage equality. 'A lot of our friends would never imagine that they can even have a marriage or a stable family, a stable relationship. What the government is doing now is just reinforcing that,' says Yu. 'It's telling you that this is really not for you, that it's really more for the more privileged or the foreigners or something.' Wong adds: 'That it's not really a Hong Kong thing.'
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Equal marriage is not a break from Hong Kong tradition
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Advertisement The recent Legislative Council discussion on the government's proposed framework for legally recognising same-sex relationships was a sad spectacle. Instead of engaging in rational, informed exchanges, some lawmakers resorted to fearmongering to justify their prejudice against sexual minorities and opposition to the proposal Currently, 39 jurisdictions around the world recognise same-sex marriage, and not a single one has reversed course. On the contrary, support has grown. In the United States, for example, 68 per cent of adults now support the inclusion of all couples in marriage. Same-sex couples are taxpayers too. They contribute to the economy, raise families and care for the community. They deserve equal treatment under the law. When it comes to parenting, the evidence is clear: a review of research showed that children raised in same-sex households fare just as well as those raised in traditional families. Leading authorities, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, affirm that what matters most is a loving, supportive and stable environment – not the sexual orientation of the parents. Advertisement
Reuters
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Hong Kong legislative council considers local registration for same-sex couples
HONG KONG, July 3 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's legislative council began discussion on Thursday of a government proposal to allow local registration for same-sex couples who have registered their marriage or relationship overseas, amid strong opposition from pro-Beijing legislators. The Hong Kong government is proposing to establish a registration system to give legal recognition to same-sex couples who have registered overseas, according to an official document released on Wednesday. Hong Kong's top court in September 2023 partially approved a landmark appeal by LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham for recognition of same-sex marriages. Although not then granting a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, judges gave the government two years to develop a legal framework to meet basic social needs. Many pro-Beijing legislators have expressed strong opposition to the proposal and asked the government to seek a delay from the court. They have also urged for public consultation before any legislative change. Holden Chow, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said approving the proposal would encourage people to enter into same-sex marriages overseas, effectively granting the marriages recognition. The legislative council has "the responsibility to uphold traditional Chinese family values and the institution of marriage between one man and one woman," Chow said. "I oppose the indirect recognition of same-sex marriage and firmly oppose this alternative proposal." Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang told the legislature the government has to respect the court's ruling, and said it was "crystal clear" the court and the government have no intention to shake the foundation of marriage between a man and a woman. "I want to stress again, from the beginning till the end, including the court and the government, we did not intend to recognise same-sex marriage," Tsang said. Sham and other LGBTQ groups have criticized the requirement that same-sex couples must first be married or registered overseas, arguing that it creates significant barriers for those who cannot afford to travel to another country to register. Sham and other activists have attended the legislative council meeting, which is open to the public. Tsang dismissed Sham's objection and the difficulties of registering overseas. "There are currently over 30 countries or regions around the world that offer same-sex marriage or partnership registration, some even allowing online registration," Tsang said. "We believe that for most people, this should not pose a significant challenge. Ultimately, it is a matter of choice." After the meeting, Sham told reporters outside the legislature that more than 60% of Hong Kong residents had supported same-sex marriage in past surveys. "I have heard that the main reason to oppose the proposal is to uphold the traditional family values. I would like to say that each of us grew up in a traditional family," Sham said. "We do not want to destroy traditional family values. We only wish to have a safeguard of our life."
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Farage would appoint Reform UK cabinet ministers from outside House of Commons
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated that a future Reform UK government could appoint individuals from outside Parliament to key cabinet positions, challenging the traditional Westminster model. Farage dismissed the idea that ministers must be politicians in the House of Commons as "nonsense," drawing comparisons to the US system where cabinet members often lack prior electoral experience. He expressed his ambition to become Prime Minister, asserting that he is the only one with the courage to address the country's difficult issues and turn things around. During a phone-in, Farage described same-sex marriage as a "settled issue" and found a recent Commons vote to decriminalise abortions after 24 weeks "disturbing." Farage also called for US President Donald Trump to be permitted to address Parliament during his upcoming visit to the UK.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Farage claims ‘well-known' figures want to join Reform UK cabinet
Nigel Farage has indicated that a future Reform UK government could appoint individuals from outside Parliament to key cabinet positions, challenging the traditional Westminster model. Speaking during an LBC phone-in on Thursday, the Reform UK leader dismissed the notion that ministers "must all be politicians in the House of Commons" as "nonsense". He drew parallels with the US system, where cabinet members frequently have no prior electoral experience, arguing that running public finances should be approached "as if you're running a business". While declining to name any specific individuals under consideration, Mr Farage hinted at significant progress, stating: "I'm amazed by the conversations we're having already." He said: 'Some of them are very well-known people. 'This country is in economic, social and cultural decline, we are in big trouble, and a lot of people recognise that if this is not turned around within the next decade, the place will, frankly, not be worth living in.' In the wide-ranging phone-in, he also said he wanted to be prime minister because he did not 'see anybody else with the guts to take on the really tough issues this country faces and turn it round'. Asked whether he supported same-sex marriage, which he previously opposed, he would only say it was a 'settled issue', and he described a recent Commons vote to decriminalise women who have abortions after the 24-week limit as 'disturbing'. Mr Farage also ruled out banning non-stunned meat, such as kosher and halal products, saying he did not 'like it' but there were 'more important, more urgent priorities'. He also called for US President Donald Trump to be allowed to address Parliament when he comes to the UK later this year, after he was barred from doing so on his previous state visit.
