Hong Kong lawmakers vote down bill recognising same-sex partnerships

Hong Kong lawmakers have voted down a bill that would have recognised same-sex partnerships, despite a landmark court ruling and years of LGBTQ rights activism, with the city’s constitutional affairs chief expressing disappointment over the result.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said on Wednesday that the government would not seek an extension to an October deadline set by the court but would discuss its next step with the Department of Justice.

The central government’s top office overlooking the city’s affairs said the vote aligned with Hong Kong’s social reality and reflected mainstream societal values. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office also said the administration, legislature and judiciary had handled the issue in accordance with the law.

“We must also be mindful that some people with ulterior motives consistently try to cause trouble by politicising this issue, attempting to undermine Hong Kong’s harmony and stability, and obstruct Hong Kong’s progress from good governance to prosperity,” it warned in a commentary posted on its WeChat account under the pen name “Gang Ao Ping”.

Wednesday’s veto marked the first time a government bill had failed to get the Legislative Council’s green light since Beijing overhauled the city’s electoral system to only have “patriots administering Hong Kong”.

The bill, voted down by 71 out of 87 lawmakers, was the government’s answer to a 2023 ruling by the Court of Final Appeal, which gave authorities two years to draw up laws setting out “core rights” of same-sex couples, with an October 27 deadline.

“The government is certainly disappointed,” Tsang said after a nearly four-hour Legco meeting. “But the government fully respects the result as the lawmakers, who speak on behalf of local residents, thought the bill failed to reflect society’s mainstream opinion and cannot achieve consensus.”