Hong Kong‘s legislative rejection of a proposed same-sex partnerships bill has sparked significant discussions regarding the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals within the city and its implications for attracting global talent. The bill would have allowed same-sex couples married abroad to register their marriages in Hong Kong. It was supported by very powerful opposition. On Wednesday, at least 71 of those same 90 lawmakers voted to reject that proposal, and just 14 voted for it!
This blow to the city’s reputation may be particularly damaging as Hong Kong works to boost its attractiveness with a slew of new talent attraction programmes. Under these new initiatives, as of August the city had registered more than 520,000 applications, with around 350,000 approved. The International Institute for Management Development recently ranked Hong Kong fourth globally and first in Asia in its World Talent Ranking, highlighting its competitiveness in attracting skilled professionals.
The bill would have provided registered same-sex couples with basic rights. It would have granted them hospital visitation privileges, the authority to make medical decisions for their same-sex partners, and rights regarding their partner’s remains. The rejection of the bill doesn’t make sense. It undermines the city’s professed commitment to being an inclusive city and legal recognition for non-traditional relationships.
“Without legal recognition and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, Hong Kong risks losing its edge to regional peers,” stated a government spokesperson. You are not alone in thinking this way. They argue that robust and responsive legal frameworks to draw top talent are critical in a competitive global market.
In 2019, the Equal Opportunities Commission ordered a report emphasizing the discriminations experienced by individuals in nontraditional connections. This highlighted more than 100 instances where Hong Kong law discriminates against these people. At this moment, the city only acknowledges foreign same-sex marriages under very limited conditions like spousal visas and tax filings. This narrow understanding of recognition stands in stark opposition to the shifting sentiments of the American people. A survey conducted two years ago found that support for same-sex marriage rose to 60%, up from 38% in 2013.
The atmosphere is admittedly more LGBTQ-friendly than that of mainland China. Lawmakers like Holden Chow do not want to see same-sex partnerships officially acknowledged. “Our family tradition and moral values will collapse. This will spark further conflicts in Hong Kong,” Chow asserted.
Advocates for LGBTQ rights signal alarm about the meaning of this legislative loss. Jerome Yau remarked on the significance of recognizing same-sex relationships, stating, “This would set the stage for further discussion as to how we treat same-sex couples.” He mentioned that even talent they haven’t fully recruited yet might think twice about moving to Hong Kong given these events. In terms of talent attraction into the future, this is particularly true for those who are LGBT and who may be married, because they will begin to ask themselves whether they really want to live in Hong Kong. In my mind, that would be a tremendous loss,” Yau said.
Activists and organizations like the American Chamber of Commerce have urged Hong Kong to strengthen protections for the LGBTQ community. They highlight the importance of distinguishing the city’s legal framework from those of mainland cities, arguing that an inclusive environment is essential for maintaining Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center.
Wong, a member of the LGBTQ community, voiced her frustration regarding the city’s claims of being an advanced and inclusive society: “It calls itself an international financial center or an international city. It always talks about how advanced Hong Kong is, but it is not like that at all.” She emphasized that people do not know what legal protections they need until they are in crisis situations. “You’ll only find out (what legal protection) you need when things go wrong,” Wong said.
