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South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to introduce same-sex partnership bill with penalties for tampering on July 16
Hong Kong authorities will introduce a bill to the legislature next Wednesday that will recognise same-sex partnerships, following a landmark court ruling in 2023, with those found tampering with records facing up to two years in prison. Details of the bill were published in a government gazette and submitted to the Legislative Council on Thursday. The first and second readings will take place in the legislative meeting on July 16. 'The Hong Kong government … must make it clear that same-sex partnerships registered under the alternative framework are not equivalent to marriages,' authorities said in the paper, highlighting that it firmly upholds the monogamous and heterosexual marriage system. Under the five-part bill, couples who have a valid same-sex marriage, partnership or civil union registered in a jurisdiction outside Hong Kong could have their relationship recognised under the proposed registration mechanism. Both individuals must be adults, with at least one of them being a Hong Kong resident. They cannot be blood-related. The recognised same-sex couples will be granted some rights related to medical matters such as hospital visits and the ability to access their partner's health records, as well as those relating to after-death arrangements and organ transplants. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs will appoint a public officer to be the Registrar (Same-sex Partnerships), with an office being set up.
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Recognising same-sex partnerships is vital for inclusive, diverse Hong Kong
On July 3, the Hong Kong government outlined its plan to submit the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill to the Legislative Council. The bill provides for an alternative framework that sets out the registration procedure and the rights of same-sex couples. The bill was introduced to comply with a landmark ruling by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023. The court held that the government has a positive obligation under the Hong Kong Bill of Rights to establish an alternative legal framework for the legal recognition and rights of same-sex partnerships. This obligation goes beyond requiring the government to introduce the bill to the Legislative Council, but requires the actual 'establishment' of such a legal framework. In other words, if the bill is not passed and as a result no such legal framework is established, the legal effect is that the government will continue to be in breach of its human rights obligations. The order was suspended for a period of two years for the government to comply with the ruling. The bill has understandably attracted criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. One camp has argued that the bill, which contains rights related to medical and after-death arrangements for same-sex partners, does not go far enough in protecting the core rights of same-sex couples. The other has complained that the bill has undermined traditional family values. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that Legco is not under any obligation to pass the bill. It is hoped that a solution is found to break this impasse. Justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done. It is imperative to maintaining public confidence in the rule of law in Hong Kong that court orders are not only complied with but that the terms of the court order are equally clearly and manifestly seen to be complied with. At the risk of stating the obvious, in a period when Hong Kong is seeking to attract talent from overseas, it is vital that Hong Kong maintains its image as an inclusive and diverse city.
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.'
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Blames Trump For U.S. Regression During South Carolina Tour
California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump's attack on various human rights during a two-day tour in South Carolina. 'What we're experiencing is America in reverse,' Newsom said to attendees in Camden, South Carolina, one of eight stops during his tour, according to ABC News. 'They're trying to bring us back to a pre-1960s world on voting rights ― you know it well. Civil rights, LGBTQ rights, women's rights and not just access to abortion, but also access to simple reproductive care, contraception… It's a moment that few of us could have imagined.' At a stop in Bennettsville, Newsom said Trump's second administration so far has fostered 'an alarming six months,' according to CNN. 'It's not what happens to us, it's how we respond to it. And our opportunity presents itself anew. In 18 months, you have the power to end Donald Trump's presidency,' Newsom also said, CNN continued. The audience applauded him. 'We'll have to deal with the tweets, we'll have to deal with the attacks and the bullying. But the legislative agenda is effectively over,' Newsom added. 'You have that power in these midterms.' Newsom is a vocal critic of Trump, so it's not new that he publicly denounced him. However, Newsom's decision to conduct a two-day tour speaking with voters across the country is somewhat unusual. Multiple outlets, including CNN and The Associated Press, have reported that the move adds credence to rumors that Newsom will pursue the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. 'I think it's really important for Democrats that we spend time in parts of our states, parts of our country, that frankly, we haven't spent enough time in, and so that's why I'm here,' Newsom explained Tuesday at a stop in Florence, according to The Associated Press. Newsom's tour also comes as Trump apparently attacked him without naming him, according to CNN. At the White House on Tuesday, Trump referred to Newsom as 'one of the worst governors in our country, who I used to get along with, actually.' 'If we didn't step in, Los Angeles would have been burned to the ground,' Trump continued. Newsom's visit has prompted other Republicans to speak out against him. 'Gavin Newsom in South Carolina today is like a kale salad at a Waffle House — confused, unwelcome, and about to get sent back,' Republican Rep. Russell Fry (S.C.) said on X. 'Gavin Newsom is bringing his Crazy California agenda to Trump Country. It's up to us to show him what real leadership looks like,' the South Carolina GOP reportedly said in an email to supporters listing Newsom's full itinerary, according to Fox News. 'Gavin Newsom turned California into a case study in government overreach and liberal failure. We don't need Gavin Newsom's twisted version of America in the Palmetto State,' South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who is running for governor as a Republican in 2026, said among a series of Newsom-centered posts on X. 'If Gavin Newsom wants to test his national message here, he'll be met by a united conservative front that knows exactly what's at stake.' Newsom's office and the White House, respectively, did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment. Trump Says He's 'Looking At' Federal Takeover Of Washington, DC Gavin Newsom Hits Fox News With $787 Million Defamation Lawsuit Gavin Newsom Brutally Mocks Trump's 'This Is Not Good' Understatement
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
