Hong Kong’s leader will ‘respect’ Legco decision on same-sex partnership bill

Hong Kong’s leader has said he will “respect” the outcome of the legislative scrutiny of a government proposal to recognise same-sex partnerships, amid mounting opposition from lawmakers, giving no further details on whether authorities will submit a revised bill if the current one is vetoed.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that while authorities must come up with a framework for same-sex partnership recognition in line with the Court of Final Appeal’s ruling, his administration would respect the Legislative Council’s power to pass or veto bills.

“Under the Basic Law, the judiciary exercises independent adjudication power, whereas the Legco exercises legislative power. Both of them perform their respective constitutional roles. The Hong Kong government respects the judiciary and the Legco in exercising their respective powers under the Basic Law,” he said.

The government is set to introduce the bill for its first reading in the Legco on Wednesday. The legislation would allow couples who have a valid same-sex marriage, partnership or civil union registered in a jurisdiction outside Hong Kong to apply to have their relationship recognised in the city.

The proposal also grants same-sex couples some rights, such as those related to medical and after-death matters, but some LGBTQ activists described it as conservative and vague.

The move follows a 2023 ruling by the top court, which found the government had violated the city’s Bill of Rights by failing to offer some form of legal recognition, such as civil partnerships, to same-sex couples.