The Hong Kong government is proposing to create a registration system for same-sex couples who have registered their relationship abroad to obtain, in effect, legal recognition, Chinese media reported on Thursday.
The proposal is based on a 2023 ruling by the Hong Kong Supreme Court. The judges rejected an appeal by one of the activists for a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. However, they gave the authorities two years to guarantee legal protection for such couples “to meet basic social needs.”
The document states that both partners must be at least 18 years old, and at least one must be a Hong Kong resident. They will have rights related to medical issues or the death of their partner. For example, they will be able to visit hospitals, receive medical information and documents, dispose of organs, and organise funerals.
The Netherlands became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2000. In January 2003, Belgium followed suit, legalising marriage for same-sex couples. In 2005, Spain legalised same-sex marriage. The Spanish Parliament passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage and granting same-sex couples the right to adopt children.
In 2006, South Africa became the first African country to legalise same-sex marriage. The New Zealand Parliament passed a bill introducing amendments that allow same-sex marriage throughout the country in 2013.
In July 2013, Queen Elizabeth II proposed legalising same-sex marriage in England and Wales. According to the BBC, all leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties supported the proposal.
