British citizens living in Asian countries will now be able to get married there legally even though the host country may not deem such marriages legal.
Since June 3, British consulates in 23 countries will host gay marriages where the ceremonies are not legal, reports timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The ‘Consular Marriage and Marriages under Foreign Law Order 2014′ that came into force means that marriages between same sex couples will be able to take place at British Consulates in the Asia-Pacific countries of Australia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, and Vietnam.
The original list of 23 countries is limited because British missions are only able to provide a same sex marriage service in countries where it is not possible for British nationals to have such a marriage under local law and where the local authorities have given permission for the missions to conduct consular marriages of same sex couples.
Same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales on March 29.
The Act enables same sex couples to marry in civil ceremonies and ensures those religious organizations that wish to do so to opt in to conduct marriage ceremonies for same sex couples.
It also enables civil partners to convert their partnership into a marriage, if they wish and also enables individuals to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage.
UK said “Marriage is one of our most important institutions, and from March 29, 2014 it will be open to everyone, irrespective of whether they fall in love with someone of the same sex or opposite sex.”
Same-sex couples who married abroad under foreign law were till now treated as civil partners. Instead, from now on, they will be recognized as being married in England and Wales.
Same-sex weddings in some British consulates and armed forces bases overseas will be possible, and arrangements for same sex weddings in military chapels will now be in place.
Two notable exceptions in the region are Hong Kong and Singapore. It has been assumed that the British Embassy in Singapore may have had problems agreeing with local Government as homosexuality is still technically illegal in the country.
However it is unclear why the Hong Kong Consulate has not been included in those offering the service, when mainland China's are. Fridae's Hong Kong correspondent, Nigel Collett, has sent the letter below to the Consul General and the South China Morning Post:
The British Government has announced that British Consulates in China, Russia and other countries will now be able to offer same-sex marriage to British citizens, despite the fact that the governments of those countries do not recognise same-sex relationships.
When checking with the British Consulate in Hong Kong, I find to my dismay that this does not apply to Hong Kong. Apparently, the government of Hong Kong has objected.
It seems that the British are ready to defy Vladimir Putin but not the bureaucrats who run Hong Kong.
I thought that unequal treaties had died out long ago, but it seems that they have just been reversed, and that the British Foreign Office is allowing conservative and homophobic elements in the bureaucracy of this city to dictate what is done on the soil of a British Consulate.
Since June 3, British consulates in 23 countries will host gay marriages where the ceremonies are not legal.
The ‘Consular Marriage and Marriages under Foreign Law Order 2014′ that came into force means that marriages between same sex couples will be able to take place at British Consulates in the Asia-Pacific countries of Australia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, and Vietnam.
The original list of 23 countries is limited because British missions are only able to provide a same sex marriage service in countries where it is not possible for British nationals to have such a marriage under local law and where the local authorities have given permission for the missions to conduct consular marriages of same sex couples.
Same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales on March 29.
The Act enables same sex couples to marry in civil ceremonies and ensures those religious organizations that wish to do so to opt in to conduct marriage ceremonies for same sex couples.
It also enables civil partners to convert their partnership into a marriage, if they wish and also enables individuals to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage.
UK said “Marriage is one of our most important institutions, and from March 29, 2014 it will be open to everyone, irrespective of whether they fall in love with someone of the same sex or opposite sex.”
Same-sex couples who married abroad under foreign law were till now treated as civil partners. Instead, from now on, they will be recognized as being married in England and Wales.
Same-sex weddings in some British consulates and armed forces bases overseas will be possible, and arrangements for same sex weddings in military chapels will now be in place.
Two notable exceptions in the region are Hong Kong and Singapore. It has been assumed that the British Embassy in Singapore may have had problems agreeing with local Government as homosexuality is still technically illegal in the country.
However it is unclear why the Hong Kong Consulate has not been included in those offering the service, when mainland China's are. Fridae's Hong Kong correspondent, Nigel Collett, has sent the letter below to the Consul General and the South China Morning Post:
The British Government has announced that British Consulates in China, Russia and other countries will now be able to offer same-sex marriage to British citizens, despite the fact that the governments of those countries do not recognise same-sex relationships.
When checking with the British Consulate in Hong Kong, I find to my dismay that this does not apply to Hong Kong. Apparently, the government of Hong Kong has objected.
It seems that the British are ready to defy Vladimir Putin but not the bureaucrats who run Hong Kong.
I thought that unequal treaties had died out long ago, but it seems that they have just been reversed, and that the British Foreign Office is allowing conservative and homophobic elements in the bureaucracy of this city to dictate what is done on the soil of a British Consulate.
How spineless. The Hong Kong government is proving Mao right. The British are paper tigers after all.
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Reader's Comments
Good for you guys!
I am neither for nor against our current government, BUT, at least they are taking some positive steps forward and for that, I think we should all be grateful because where brave steps are taken (albeit not everywhere or to everyone's pleasing), others will (hopefully) in time, follow.
Moreover, shouldn't it be the governments of Hong Kong and Singapore rather than the British government that are more worthy of criticism? After all, it is them and them alone that ultimately determine what the British government can and can't do in those countries.
So, rather than lower ourselves to name calling, wouldn't it be more productive to spend that time lobbying the governments of Hong Kong and Singapore in order that THEY take positive steps? Just a thought.
Oh, to be married to a British gentleman, and though it would have been a tad more inconvenient without this law, nonetheless I had my chance and I let it go.
I wish others well in taking advantage of this new law to sooner marry whom they love before the opportunity slips away.
For what it's worth I think it is a hugely pleasant surprise to even receive the news. Considering all the far more pressing matters the British have on their own plate (imposed fracking, anyone?) I'd never expect them to take time to attend to this. So what if they hit a few snags with some of the more stubborn countries? They've already gotten this far, and the kinks will hopefully get ironed out in good time.
HK is falling some international standards after reverted to the Chinese sovereignty. Where as cultural influence heterosexual is the majority in HK's population. As a British national born in HK before 1997, I am fortunate to have such rights....Nevertheless, I won't exercise this process there. And many other third world countries still under suppression and prosecutions if they are being gay!
My question: I'm a British citizen live in Chiang Mai, Thailand with my lovely Thai boyfriend, but I don't see Thailand listed as one of the 23 countries allowing this, despite Thailand supposedly being very 'gay friendly'.
Before this announcement we would have had to go to Vietnam, of all places, to have a Civil Partnership undertaken!
So is Thailand still not allowing Civil Partnerships or marriages for same sex couples, even in our own British embassies or consulates?
How bizarre if this is so, especially as the Thai parliament is actively considering allowing same-sex marriages for its own citizens!
Does anyone know if this is still the case in Thailand? Cheers, David
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