Hong Kong faces backlash after rejecting bill granting basic rights to same-sex couples

Human rights organizations have sharply criticized the Hong Kong government after lawmakers rejected a bill intended to provide limited rights to same-sex couples, calling it a denial of even the “bare minimum” of protections.

The bill was defeated in the city’s unicameral legislative council (LegCo) on Wednesday, with 71 votes against and 14 in favor, during its second reading. The decision followed months of heated debate between opponents—who argued the measure threatened family values—and supporters, who said the government was ignoring public sentiment that increasingly supports same-sex relationships.

The proposed law was drafted in response to a landmark September 2023 Court of Final Appeal ruling. While the court upheld the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, it ordered the government to establish an “alternative framework” that recognized the “core rights” of same-sex couples who had legally married or registered their union abroad. The case was brought forward by activist Jimmy Sham.

Advocates had already criticized the government’s draft bill as a minimalistic attempt to comply with the court’s ruling. Following Wednesday’s vote, rights groups expressed disappointment and frustration at LegCo’s decision.

Hong Kong Marriage Equality said the veto sends “a troubling signal to both local and international communities—that court rulings may be disregarded and the dignity of individuals overlooked.”

Amnesty International’s Nadia Rahman described the rejected bill as “flawed” and criticized lawmakers for blocking legislation that would have offered “the bare minimum of protection” for couples. She added that the decision reflects “an alarming disdain for LGBTI rights” and shows “just how far Hong Kong has to go before everyone in the city can enjoy equal rights.”

Jimmy Sham, who led the original court case, responded after the vote: “All of our community feel very disappointed, but I still want everybody to have hope because this is not the endgame.”

The rejection marks the first time LegCo has voted down a government bill since Beijing’s sweeping electoral reforms, which were designed to ensure only pro-Beijing “patriots” could serve. Some lawmakers said they opposed the measure because it could undermine Hong Kong’s traditional marriage system. Holden Chow, from the city’s largest pro-establishment party, claimed it would “subvert Hong Kong’s marriage system between one man and one woman” and open “a Pandora’s box.”

Fiery lawmaker Junius Ho argued that expanding rights for same-sex couples would create “confusion” during Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, while Regina Ip, one of the few who supported the bill, described it as little more than a “minimum spending requirement.”

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang said the government was “disappointed” but respected the legislature’s decision, calling it representative of “local residents and mainstream opinion.” Beijing officials, meanwhile, pointed to the vote as evidence that LegCo is not a “rubber-stamp” body.

Despite the setback, polling consistently shows that most Hong Kong residents support same-sex relationships. Years of activism and legal battles have gradually won limited rights for LGBTQ+ people, including access to public housing, spousal visas, and inheritance protections. But advocates like Nick Infinger, who previously won an LGBTQ+ rights case, say progress will likely continue only through judicial review: “The only way we could fight for our rights… little bit by little bit, would be through judicial review.”

The rejection comes as the city approaches the end of the two-year deadline set by the Court of Final Appeal. The government confirmed it will “further discuss and study the issue with the Department of Justice” rather than seeking an extension, leaving the future of same-sex rights in Hong Kong uncertain.

Further investigation by Jason Tzu Kuan Lu