Hong Kong Lawmakers Reject Bill To Recognise Same-Sex Couples

Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has rejected a bill that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples married or registered overseas.

The proposal sought to create a registration system allowing same-sex partners to access certain social benefits, such as hospital visitation rights.

It was introduced after Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal ruled in September 2023 that the government must develop a legal framework by October 27, 2025, to address the basic needs of same-sex couples.

While the court failed to recognise same-sex marriage, it ordered authorities to provide alternative legal protections.

Despite this, the bill faced fierce resistance from pro-Beijing lawmakers and religious groups, who argued that recognising same-sex unions undermines “traditional family values.”

In the final vote, 71 legislators opposed the measure, while only 14 supported it — the first time since the 2021, that Hong Kong’s lawmakers, had struck down a government-backed bill.

Advocacy group Hong Kong Marriage Equality described the outcome as “a disappointing day” that undermines public trust in the rule of law, saying it shows that “court rulings may be disregarded and the dignity of individuals overlooked.”

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee had earlier insisted the government would comply with the court’s order, but reaffirmed that Hong Kong defines marriage strictly as a heterosexual union.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International and a coalition of more than 30 Asian LGBTQ organisations, had called on the government to adopt a comprehensive framework to recognise same-sex partnerships.

Hong Kong Lawmakers Reject Bill To Recognise Same-Sex Couples is first published on The Whistler Newspaper