A senior Hong Kong official has called on lawmakers to be “pragmatic, rational and impartial” when scrutinising a bill aimed at granting certain legal rights to same-sex couples after most major political parties voiced opposition to the legislation.
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Introducing the bill for its first and second readings in the legislature on Wednesday, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai stressed that the proposed framework was a “reasonable balance” between fulfilling the basic societal needs of same-sex couples and preserving the heterosexual marriage system.
“The government understands that the bill is controversial,” he said in the Legislative Council. “But to safeguard Hong Kong’s rule of law, respect the court’s ruling and fulfil our duties, the government introduced the bill with a spirit of accountability and courage.
“We hope lawmakers will be pragmatic, rational and impartial in scrutinising the bill.”
Same-sex marriage is not permitted in Hong Kong. The Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill is aimed at granting same-sex couples married abroad certain rights related to medical matters and after-death arrangements following a landmark ruling from the top court in 2023.
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As of Wednesday, at least 35 members of the 89-strong Legco told the Post they would oppose the bill, including those from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Liberal Party.