Hong Kong authorities will introduce a bill to the legislature next Wednesday that will recognise same-sex partnerships, following a landmark court ruling in 2023, with those found tampering with records facing up to two years in prison.
Advertisement
Details of the bill were published in a government gazette and submitted to the Legislative Council on Thursday. The first and second readings will take place in the legislative meeting on July 16.
“The Hong Kong government … must make it clear that same-sex partnerships registered under the alternative framework are not equivalent to marriages,” authorities said in the paper, highlighting that it firmly upholds the monogamous and heterosexual marriage system.
Under the five-part bill, couples who have a valid same-sex marriage, partnership or civil union registered in a jurisdiction outside Hong Kong could have their relationship recognised under the proposed registration mechanism.
Both individuals must be adults, with at least one of them being a Hong Kong resident. They cannot be blood-related.
Advertisement
The recognised same-sex couples will be granted some rights related to medical matters such as hospital visits and the ability to access their partner’s health records, as well as those relating to after-death arrangements and organ transplants.
The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs will appoint a public officer to be the Registrar (Same-sex Partnerships), with an office being set up.