Reflections | How homosexuality was accepted in ancient China, and even celebrated
Opponents of Hong Kong’s Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill cite traditional values, but China has a history of being more accepting
Hong Kong’s Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill, introduced to the Legislative Council in July, proposes the establishment of a legal framework to register overseas same-sex marriages and civil partnerships.
The bill grants limited rights, including next-of-kin status for medical decisions, hospital visitation and postmortem arrangements.
It explicitly excludes legal recognition of same-sex marriages or civil unions conducted within Hong Kong.
The government asserts that the bill does not alter the existing legal definition of marriage. It has faced opposition from progressives who say the bill does not go far enough, and conservative lawmakers who claim it undermines traditional family values.
