30 Jul 2018

Hong Kong's Leader Says Landmark Visa Ruling Does Not Pave Way for Same Sex Marriage

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam charges gay lawmaker to prove city is ready for same sex marriage.

Hong Kong government has no plan to pursue same-sex marriage after a landmark court decision ruled same-sex couples should be granted spousal visas.

Chief executive Carrie Lam told the legislative council this month that the government respected the decision but that it was not a challenge to Hong Kong's Marriage Ordinance and concerned only the city's immigration policy, according to the South China Morning Post.

 Executive council member Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan asked Lam whether the ruling would affect other policies such as housing, welfare, marriage and adoption.

Lam said same-sex marriage did not have support of public, to which LGBT lawmaker Raymond Chan Chi-chuen pointed to a University of Hong Kong survey that found 70 percent of Hong Kongers supported same-sex marriage.

Hong Kong