Camille Naredo

Participants hold a large rainbow flag as they take part in the annual pride parade at Victoria park in Hong Kong on November 17, 2018. Yan Zhao, AFP/File

Participants hold a large rainbow flag as they take part in the annual pride parade at Victoria park in Hong Kong on November 17, 2018. (Photo by Yan ZHAO / AFP)

Article (news)

HONG KONG

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752565880856AFP__20181117__1AX1BS__v1__MidRes__HongKongPoliticsHomosexualityGayParade.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Participants hold a large rainbow flag as they take part in the annual pride parade at Victoria park in Hong Kong on November 17, 2018. Yan Zhao, AFP/FileParticipants hold a large rainbow flag as they take part in the annual pride parade at Victoria park in Hong Kong on November 17, 2018. Yan Zhao, AFP/File"/>Participants hold a large rainbow flag as they take part in the annual pride parade at Victoria park in Hong Kong on November 17, 2018. Yan Zhao, AFP/File</div>HONG KONG, China -- Hong Kong leader John Lee threw his weight behind a bill recognizing limited rights for same-sex couples on Tuesday, despite fears that opposition from pro-Beijing parties could sink it.Lee&#x27;s administration proposed legislation this month to recognize some rights for same-sex partners whose marriages are registered abroad.Despite LGBTQ activists arguing it does not go far enough, the proposal drew near-universal criticism from the pro-Beijing politicians that dominate Hong Kong&#x27;s legislature.The clash pitted Lee against conservative lawmakers from his own camp and led some to fear the proposal might be pulled.The city&#x27;s top court ordered Hong Kong&#x27;s government to create an &quot;alternative framework&quot; for LGBTQ couples when it quashed a bid to recognize same-sex marriage in 2023.Lee said on Tuesday the government &quot;must not act in violation&quot; of the Court of Final Appeal&#x27;s judgement.&quot;Otherwise, it will be against the rule of law... Violating the rule of law will mean serious consequences,&quot; he told reporters.The government will respect the legislature&#x27;s final decision, he added.In 2023, the court unanimously defined marriage as &quot;confined to opposite-sex couples&quot; -- a stance Lee reiterated on Tuesday.LGBTQ activists say the bill -- which only covers &quot;rights related to medical matters&quot; and &quot;right to handle after-death arrangements&quot; -- fails to satisfy the court&#x27;s framework requirements.China is not among the countries around the world that have legalised marriage equality since the Netherlands became the first to do so in 2001.Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China with its own legislature and a mini-constitution that guarantees a &quot;high degree of autonomy&quot;.Pro-Beijing firebrand lawmaker Junius Ho earlier floated the idea of asking Beijing&#x27;s top legislature to overrule Hong Kong&#x27;s apex court to &quot;protect traditional family values&quot;.Support for same-sex marriage in Hong Kong has grown over the past decade and hit 60 percent, according to a 2023 survey.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Hong Kong leader John Lee threw his weight behind a bill recognising limited rights for same-sex couples on Tuesday, despite fears that opposition from pro-Beijing parties could sink it.

Hong Kong leader John Lee threw his weight behind a bill recognising limited rights for same-sex couples on Tuesday, despite fears that opposition from pro-Beijing parties could sink it.

Hong Kong leader backs same-sex couples' rights bill

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Hong Kong leader backs same-sex couples' rights bill

Agence France-Presse

Published July 15, 2025 03:55 PM PHT

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Updated July 15, 2025 06:20 PM PHT

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Hong Kong

John Lee

same-sex couples

LGBTQIA+

LGBT rights

Pride

same-sex marriage

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