Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on Wednesday, September 10th, voted down a bill that would have granted limited legal rights to same-sex couples who registered their marriage or relationship overseas, sparking disappointment among LGBTQ groups and activists.
The government-backed proposal sought to introduce a registration system that would have allowed same-sex couples some additional rights. The initiative followed a September 2023 ruling by the Court of Final Appeal, which stopped short of granting constitutional recognition to same-sex marriage.
The bill was seen as a rare chance to advance LGBT rights in Hong Kong. However, it encountered stiff resistance from some lawmakers and religious groups, who argued that recognizing same-sex unions undermines traditional family values. Calls for postponement ultimately led to the measure’s rejection.
In a vote that marked the first veto since the legislature was restructured in 2021 to allow only pro-Beijing candidates, 71 lawmakers opposed the bill while 14 supported it.
Chief Executive John Lee previously noted that the government was bound by the court’s ruling but reaffirmed that “a lawful marriage in Hong Kong is between one man and one woman, and a monogamous and heterosexual marriage.”
Jimmy Sham, the pro-democracy activist who launched the original legal challenge, expressed frustration at the outcome but urged supporters not to lose hope. Ahead of the vote, Amnesty International and 30 Asian gay rights organizations had called on the government to “fully comply” with the court’s decision by “establishing a comprehensive legal framework that recognizes same-sex partnerships and allows all same-sex couples to enter into a local, legally registered partnership.”
Uncertainty now looms over how the government will fulfill its constitutional duty. Some groups have urged officials to seek an extension of the October 27th deadline set by the court.
Erick Tsang, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, acknowledged the government’s disappointment but stressed that the legislature had acted within its powers under the Basic Law. “The Government will respect the Legislative Council’s decision and voting result,” Tsang said.
