Hong Kong’s top court denies 31 major banks and law firms’ bid to support lesbian expat ‘QT’ in LGBT rights battle
Court decides arguments made by institutions were already covered by woman who was denied a spousal visa through her wife after moving to the city in 2014
Hong Kong’s highest court on Monday struck down a bid from more than 30 major banks and law firms, as well as Amnesty International, to support a lesbian’s legal battle that has far-reaching implications for gay expatriate couples in the city.
The ruling was handed down by the Court of Final Appeal about a month after 15 financial institutions, 16 law firms and the global human rights group petitioned the court to have a say in what has become known as the “QT case”.
A spokesman from Davis Polk and Wardwell, the lawyers representing the banks and law firms, said they were “disappointed”, but respected the court’s decision.
Major banks back lesbian woman’s legal challenge to government
“Hong Kong faces strong competition from other international financial cities in the region and globally and the current immigration policy risks putting Hong Kong behind other jurisdictions,” he said, adding that the institutions believed respecting diversity was essential for the city to attract talent.
QT, as she is known in court, followed her partner, known as SS, to the city but was denied a dependant visa despite the pair having entered a civil union in Britain. QT won in a lower appeal court in September to have their British civil union recognised in the city for the purpose of a dependant visa.
The decision upended the Immigration Department’s practice of granting such visas only to heterosexual married couples. Following the ruling, the government lodged a final appeal, which will be heard on June 5.