Latest news with #pro-Beijing
HKFP
2 hours ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Letting gay couples who wed online register locally will ‘twist one's definition of marriage,' lawmaker says
Allowing gay couples who married remotely overseas to register their partnerships in Hong Kong would 'twist one's definition of marriage,' a pro-Beijing lawmaker has said, as meetings about the government's same-sex rights bill continued. Speaking during a Legislative Council discussion on Friday, lawmaker Holden Chow referred to a clause in the bill that says couples whose marriage, civil partnership or union was conducted 'by remote means' would be eligible to register their partnerships in Hong Kong. In recent years, online weddings officiated virtually in countries where same-sex marriage is legal have become more common in the LGBTQ community, including in Hong Kong. 'This will instantly twist one's definition of marriage,' said Chow, a member of the city's largest pro-establishment party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB). Friday marked the second day of meetings in the Legislative Council's Bills Committee on the Registration of Same-Sex Partnerships Bill. A total of 15 lawmakers are reviewing the government's proposal before it returns to the council meeting for a vote by the city's 89 lawmakers. Almost all pro-establishment parties with representation in the Legislative Council, such as the DAB, the Liberal Party and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, have said they will vote against the bill, calling the framework it proposes a threat to the traditional heterosexual marriage system. Only the New People's Party has shown support for the bill. The Legislative Council lost its opposition after an overhaul in 2021 required all lawmakers to be 'patriots' to run. On Friday, lawmaker Peter Shiu echoed Chow's comments about remote weddings and asked the government to consider limiting the registration of same-sex partnerships to those who wed overseas in person. In response, Deputy Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Sy said letting those who got married virtually register their marriages locally was aimed at making the process more convenient for them, as not everybody could travel overseas to tie the knot. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang added in Cantonese: 'If the laws [in those jurisdictions] allow online [registration], then we cannot exclude it.' Top court ruling The government's proposal comes as Hong Kong has around three months left to establish a framework for recognising same-sex partnerships, following a top court ruling in 2023 that found the lack of such a mechanism unconstitutional. The Court of Final Appeal gave the government two years to put such a mechanism in place, with the deadline coming up in late October. The bill is limited to granting registered couples rights in matters relating to healthcare and death, such as hospital visits, making medical decisions, and collecting the body of a deceased partner. At least one person in the couple must be a Hong Kong resident. On Friday, Tsang said the proposed framework was based on considerations including the 'actual situation' in society, traditional family values and the public's interests. Among the 15 members of the bills committee, only one – Regina Ip of the New People's Party – has expressed support for the bill. She said accepting couples who got married online was necessary, adding that the option was needed for people who were seriously ill or on their deathbed, and wanted to have their relationship recognised while they were still alive. Ahead of submitting the proposed framework to the Legislative Council earlier this month, the government did not hold any public consultations despite LGBTQ advocacy groups' efforts to reach out to the authorities. No public hearings, where members of the public present their views to officials in Legislative Council meetings, will be held, with only written submissions invited. Azan Marwah, a family lawyer who has represented clients in LGBTQ-related court cases, said in his submission that he supported the government's commitment to comply with the top court ruling, but that the framework did not go far enough. The 'best way for the Legislative Council to create equality' is to introduce same-sex marriage, he said, citing a 2023 survey that showed around 60 per cent of Hong Kong people support it. He called for protection for the children of same-sex couples, saying it would 'strengthen the values of commitment, love and mutual support.'
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Taiwan says China is 'clearly' trying to interfere in its democracy ahead of recall vote
China is "clearly" trying to interfere in Taiwan's democracy and it is up to Taiwan's people to decide who should be removed from or stay in office, the island's government says ahead of a recall vote for around one-fifth of politicians. On Saturday, Taiwanese voters will decide on the fate of 24 politicians from Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), in a recall campaign. The campaign was started by civic groups who accused the politicians of cosying up to Beijing, which views the island as its own territory. The KMT denies being pro-Beijing, but says it needs to keep lines of communication with China open. It has denounced the recalls as a "malicious" attack on democracy that does not respect the results of last year's parliamentary election. China's Taiwan Affairs Office and Chinese state media have repeatedly commented on the recall vote and used some of the same talking points as the Kuomintang. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it "rejects the Chinese Communist Party's intervention". "Recall in Taiwan is a civil right guaranteed by the constitution, and it is up to the people of Taiwan to decide who should or should not be removed from office." China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. While President Lai Ching-te won the election last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its legislative majority. The opposition has flexed its muscles since then to pass laws the government has opposed and impose budget cuts, complicating efforts to boost defence spending in particular. The recall campaign has been happening against a backdrop of China ramping up its own military and diplomatic pressure campaign against Taiwan to assert territorial claims that Taiwan resolutely rejects. Reuters
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Taiwan warns of Chinese interference before recall vote – DW – 07/23/2025
Taiwan says China has no right to intervene in the recall vote on lawmakers whom activists see as cozying up to Beijing. China views Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan will hold the largest recall vote in its history this weekend. The 24 legislators on the list are all from the largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT). On Wednesday, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council stated that it was evident and clear that the Chinese Communist Party was attempting to interfere with Taiwan's democratic process. "Recall in Taiwan is a civil right guaranteed by the constitution, and it is up to the people of Taiwan to decide who should or should not be removed from office." Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said on its social media. The recall campaign was started by civic groups who accuse the KMT lawmakers of being too close to Beijing, which views Taiwan as its own territory. China's Taiwan Affairs Office and Chinese state media have repeatedly commented on the recall vote, urging Taiwanese voters to oppose it and echoing key talking points used by the KMT. For the recall to succeed, the number of votes in favor must outnumber the number of votes against. Turnout must exceed 25% of registered voters in the constituency. Although President Lai Ching-te won last year's election, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its parliamentary majority. Since then, the opposition has used its control of the legislature to pass bills opposed by the government and impose major budget cuts, especially those related to defense spending intended to guard against Chinese threats. China has rejected Lai's multiple offers of talks, branding him a "separatist," and has increased military pressure against Taiwan. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The KMT denies being pro-Beijing. The party insists on maintaining an open dialogue with China and condemn the recalls as a "malicious" attack on democracy that disregards the results of last year's parliamentary election. Most people in Taiwan identify primarily as Taiwanese. According to a survey conducted by the National Chengchi University Election Study Center, only 2.3% of Taiwanese people consider themselves Chinese. The Chinese government claims that Taiwan, a democratically self-ruled island, is a breakaway province that must be 'reunited' with the mainland by force, if necessary.
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
China 'clearly' trying to interfere in Taiwan's democracy, Taipei says before recall vote, Asia News
TAIPEI — China is "clearly" trying to interfere in Taiwan's democracy and it is up to Taiwan's people to decide who should be removed from or stay in office, the island's government said on Wednesday (July 23) ahead of a recall vote for around one-fifth of lawmakers. On Saturday, Taiwan voters will decide on the fate of 24 lawmakers from Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), in a recall campaign started by civic groups who accuse the lawmakers of cozying up to Beijing, which views the island as its own territory. The KMT denies being pro-Beijing, but says it needs to keep lines of communication with China open, and has denounced the recalls as a "malicious" attack on democracy that does not respect the results of last year's parliamentary election. China's Taiwan Affairs Office and Chinese state media have repeatedly commented on the recall vote and used some of the same talking points as the Kuomintang, Reuters reported this week. In a post on Facebook citing the Reuters report and research by Taiwan's IORG, which analyses Chinese state media reports, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it "rejects the Chinese Communist Party's intervention". "The Chinese Communist Party's attempt to interfere with Taiwan's democratic operation is evident and clear," it said. "Recall in Taiwan is a civil right guaranteed by the constitution, and it is up to the people of Taiwan to decide who should or should not be removed from office." China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. It has also not responded to questions submitted last week by Reuters about the recall and whether China was seeking to interfere in the outcome. The recall campaign has been happening against a backdrop of China ramping up its own military and diplomatic pressure campaign against Taiwan to assert territorial claims that Taiwan resolutely rejects. [[nid:719700]]
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
China 'clearly' trying to interfere in Taiwan's democracy, Taipei says before recall vote
TAIPEI - China is "clearly" trying to interfere in Taiwan's democracy and it is up to Taiwan's people to decide who should be removed from or stay in office, the island's government said on Wednesday ahead of a recall vote for around one-fifth of lawmakers. On Saturday, Taiwan voters will decide on the fate of 24 lawmakers from Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), in a recall campaign started by civic groups who accuse the lawmakers of cozying up to Beijing, which views the island as its own territory. The KMT denies being pro-Beijing, but says it needs to keep lines of communication with China open, and has denounced the recalls as a "malicious" attack on democracy that does not respect the results of last year's parliamentary election. China's Taiwan Affairs Office and Chinese state media have repeatedly commented on the recall vote and used some of the same talking points as the Kuomintang, Reuters reported this week. In a post on Facebook citing the Reuters report and research by Taiwan's IORG, which analyses Chinese state media reports, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it "rejects the Chinese Communist Party's intervention". "The Chinese Communist Party's attempt to interfere with Taiwan's democratic operation is evident and clear," it said. "Recall in Taiwan is a civil right guaranteed by the constitution, and it is up to the people of Taiwan to decide who should or should not be removed from office." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore's domestic recycling rate drops to all time low of 11% Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kick in Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20% Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore 2 foreigners arrested for shop theft at Changi Airport Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. It has also not responded to questions submitted last week by Reuters about the recall and whether China was seeking to interfere in the outcome. The recall campaign has been happening against a backdrop of China ramping up its own military and diplomatic pressure campaign against Taiwan to assert territorial claims that Taiwan resolutely rejects. REUTERS
