HK's Same-Sex Union Bill Marks First Big Split Between Govt, Legislature

Opposition to Bill Creates Unusual Situation in City's 'Patriots Only' LegCo

- Magdalene Fung

HONG KONG - The first major clash of views between Hong Kong leader John Lee's administration and the usually biddable legislature is centred on an issue that affects just 6 per cent of the city's population.

The contention is over the government's proposal to recognise a limited set of legal rights for same-sex couples who are married abroad.

This move would affect the roughly 450,000 people who identify as non-heterosexual in the population of 7.4 million in the Asian financial hub.

The divergence of views, while a healthy sign of diversity, is proving a headache for the government.

The Bill to recognise these rights—which is the government's bid to comply with a landmark court ruling in 2023 obliging it to do so—was formally introduced to the Legislative Council (LegCo) on July 16.

Lawmakers were set to debate the proposal, but that has for now been adjourned. A date for the debate, which precedes a vote on the Bill, has yet to be announced.

The delay comes after strong opposition to the Bill from nearly half the 89-member LegCo. For the Bill to be passed into law, a majority vote is required.

But with 41 lawmakers having already said they will either reject the Bill or abstain from the vote and only eight publicly expressing their support for it so far, a veto looks almost certain.

It is an unusual situation in Hong Kong's "patriots only" legislature, which has, since an electoral overhaul in 2021, been largely aligned with the government's objectives, resulting in the uneventful passage of most Bills—until now.

Over the past week, top officials have repeatedly articulated the government's stance on the matter and urged lawmakers to back the same-sex partnerships Bill.