Hong Kong rejects same-sex marriage rights bill

Hong Kong lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have granted rights to same-sex couples who registered their marriage abroad.

71 members of the 89-seat Legislative Council voted against the proposal. The bill had sought to introduce a registration system that would provide couples married overseas with certain rights, such as hospital visitation, according to Reuters.

The government had introduced the bill in an effort to comply with a September 2023 court ruling, which gave authorities two years to establish a legal framework for recognising same-sex unions and meeting their basic needs, after refusing to recognise same-sex marriages.

In response, advocacy group Hong Kong Marriage Equality said: “Today is a disappointing day for Hong Kong. (It) sends a troubling signal to both local and international communities — that court rulings may be disregarded and the dignity of individuals overlooked.”

The bill’s rejection means the government must now find a new way to recognise same-sex unions before the 27 October deadline.

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