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HKFP
2 days ago
- Politics
- HKFP
‘It is scary to be LGBTQ+ in Hong Kong': Over 10,700 submissions received for same-sex partnership bill consultation
A government proposal to recognise same-sex partnerships in Hong Kong has attracted over 10,700 written public submissions, ranging from support for the LGBTQ community to fears that the institution of heterosexual marriage is at stake. The Legislative Council (LegCo), which is vetting the bill, invited the public to submit their views on the framework last month. The less than one-week period for collecting submissions was the government's sole effort to engage the public on the proposal, despite having had two years – since the top court in 2023 ordered the creation of a framework recognising same-sex partnerships – to do so. Of the 10,775 written submissions, a significant number appeared to be identical templates shared by conservative groups, many of which were sent during the final days of the submission window. The submissions point out that the Basic Law defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, saying that the bill would shatter family values and encourage same-sex couples to adopt. LGBTQ activists and groups also mobilised supporters to submit their views. Jimmy Sham, the activist who took the case to court in 2018, created a petition allowing signatories to directly email their submissions. Sham told HKFP that his petition received 1,016 signatures. Most of the unique submissions came from those supporting the bill. Some said they identified as LGBTQ and spoke of their personal experience as a member of the minority community. All of the submissions received were shared on the LegCo website per the standard practice, except in cases where the writers requested privacy. HKFP highlights some of the submissions. 'I feel marginalised' One Hongkonger, Elise, said she works in the education sector and is unable to come out at the workplace. 'I am well aware that my seniors are homophobic or anti-gay. I am afraid of losing my job because of this, as I have heard of similar things happening before,' she wrote in Chinese. She said she currently has a stable partner, and to understand her rights in Hong Kong, she has attended talks related to insurance, inheritance, and medical matters. 'The time… and money I've spent on this has highlighted that I am different from heterosexual [people]. I feel marginalised… the system is unjust,' Elise added. She said passing the framework would give same-sex partners legal status, allowing them to reduce discrimination and misunderstanding in society. LGBTQ in the Christian community Blessed Ministry Community Church, an LGBTQ-friendly church, said it knew of churchgoers who encountered everyday problems because their partnerships were not legally recognised in Hong Kong. One person in a same-sex relationship was unable to visit their partner in hospital and was stopped from obtaining information because they were not recognised as a relative, the church said. In another case, one partner in a same-sex relationship passed away before writing a will, and the surviving partner was evicted by the landlord as they were not seen as a legal occupant, the church added. 'A registration system can significantly reduce unnecessary discrimination and administrative disputes… [so] same-sex couples can obtain a clear and firm legal status,' the church wrote in Chinese. 'What kids hear at school' A man surnamed Ng said that as a father of two, he was 'most worried about what kids hear at school.' 'Once, my son asked me, 'Can two fathers build a family too?' I was dumbfounded for half the day, not knowing how to respond,' Ng wrote in Chinese. '[I am] not excluding anybody, I just think kids first need to understand what a traditional family looks like. 'The bill says it will not affect the marriage institution, but after [same-sex partnerships] registrations are legally recognised, will this be added to children's textbooks?' Ng said. 'Upholding the rule of law' Law student Leung Hui-ling said that as an aspiring legal practitioner, it was important to her that the government comply with the Court of Final Appeal's ruling and continue upholding the rule of law. 'I am also eager to see our city keep… pace with changing societal views on marriage and provide long-awaited legal rights and protections for same-sex couples that allow Hong Kong to be a safe haven for all, including those with different sexual orientations,' Leung wrote. She added that the bill 'has its limits.' Providing rights related to medical decisions and posthumous affairs, the bill is 'unable to cover all the issues that a married couple would run into on a practical basis,' Leung wrote. She added that she hoped the bill could be expanded so all citizens are considered 'equal under the law.' 'Our motherland' A member of the public, who signed off as Ho Wai-chun, said they opposed the bill because 'our motherland does not accept same-sex marriage.' 'Although [Hong Kong is run under] 'one country, two systems,' this kind of major difference in family values will definitely obstruct the integration and people exchange between the two places,' Ho wrote in Chinese. 'This would absolutely be no good for Hong Kong's development.' Calling for Beijing to intervene One writer, surnamed Song, said they disagreed with Regina Ip, referring to the only lawmaker in the bills committee who supports the framework. Song said the bill 'clearly erodes on [China's] national policies and traditions' and that Beijing should issue an interpretation of the top court ruling, echoing calls from lawmaker Junius Ho. Junius Ho, known for his fiery statements against LGBTQ rights, said that Beijing should intervene and override the Court of Final Appeal's order for the city to recognise same-sex partnerships. 'Uneasy and scared' Chester Karissa Chan said she and her long-term same-sex partner have long felt 'injustices' in the system. 'What we fear most is that one of us might be hospitalised while the other is unable to visit or make decisions as a family member, or that issues might arise with our assets and inheritance arrangements,' Chan wrote in Chinese. 'We've lived together for many years, yet because of the 'lack of recognition' by the law we lose our protections,' she wrote. 'This makes us uneasy and scared, and this is how many same-sex couples feel.' 'Attracting gays' to Hong Kong A man surnamed Lam said that he accepts the freedom of others to choose their partners but asked: 'Please do not force me to accept same-sex relationships.' He said the framework would bring a 'heavy cost' to Hong Kong and destroy family values. 'Some lawmakers have said that this legislation can attract talent [to Hong Kong]. This view is even more terrifying… this legislation would only attract more gays,' he said in Chinese. 'This is not good for Hong Kong, nor is it good for the country.' 'Practical need' Ken To said he was 'a citizen who is concerned about diverse families.' He said his mother was bisexual and decided to separate from his father when he was 10. Now, his mother has a long-term same-sex partner. 'Early this year, my mother unfortunately got into a car accident and needed a high-risk surgery that involved making medical decisions,' he said in Chinese. '[Her] partner was not able to handle that for her.' 'It can be seen that there is a practical need for the rights offered by this bill,' he wrote. 'Reverse discrimination' Ng Mee-kam expressed her 'grave concern' about the bill, saying that the city should 'put on hold' the framework pending a 'society-wide discussion and consensus about our understanding and stance [on] same-sex marriage.' She urged the government to consider the 'possible implications' of passing a framework, 'especially in our society when the birth rate is incredibly low.' Authorities should also address concerns about 'reverse discrimination' and offer 'measures that can protect those who uphold the stance [on] traditional marriage.' 'Violation' of children's rights The Society for Truth and Light, a Christian organisation that has been accused of advocating conversion therapy, said that recognising same-sex partnerships could undermine the well-being of children. Without providing any evidence, the group claimed that some children raised by same-sex parents in other countries were depressed and frustrated at 'not being able to receive the love of a father or mother.' If the framework passes, it could open the possibility of same-sex couples adopting children, leading to more babies being born through sperm or egg donation and surrogacy. 'Same-sex adoption constitutes a serious deprivation and violation of the rights of children yet to be born,' the Society for Truth and Light wrote in Chinese. 'It is scary to be LGBTQ+ in Hong Kong' Hannah Kan, who identified as a Christian pansexual transgender woman, urged lawmakers to examine the bill's merits instead of using 'preconceived notions of what it means to be LGBTQ+.' 'It is scary to be LGBTQ+ in Hong Kong. It is doubly so when one of the identities is being transgender,' Kan wrote. She said her friend, who is a transgender lesbian, feels the need to hide because 'Hong Kong doesn't recognise… her identity or her sexuality to be a valid one, that it is not unlawful to discriminate [against] her.' Kan added: 'The lack of recognition is precisely a form of state-sponsored discrimination, which must stop if Hong Kong is to remain the Pearl of the Orient.' She also criticised the framework's limitation to recognising only partnerships that are already registered abroad. 'Meanwhile, heterosexual couples can simply marry in Hong Kong,' Kan wrote. 'This is inequitable.' 'No reason to oppose this' Henry Wong said he was a married Catholic who supported recognising same-sex partnerships. 'As someone who already enjoys these rights, I hope that same-sex couples can also have the same rights I do,' Wong wrote in Chinese. He said he did not understand why others were opposing the framework 'in the name of love.' 'Granting them these rights does not in any way diminish or threaten the rights of those of us who already have them,' Wong added. 'There is simply no reason to oppose this.' Same-sex relationships 'overly romanticised' Siu Wing-kei said the legalisation of same-sex partnerships would send a 'grave message' to the next generation, whose values are 'still being shaped.' Hong Kong is part of China, she said, adding that the passing of the bill would break Chinese family values and 'the emphasis on preserving the family line through reproduction.' She also said movies and songs may 'overly romanticise same-sex relationships,' and the solution was not 'legalising their behaviours, but through introducing healthy family relationships.'
South Wales Guardian
24-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
North Wales Chronicle
24-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
Rhyl Journal
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
South Wales Argus
24-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. Security minister Dan Jarvis leaves the Cabinet Office on Whitehall, central London, following a Cobra meeting (James Manning/PA) In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
