Court rules in favor of same-sex expat couple
Print Edition
Hong Kong鈥檚 Court of Final Appeal ruled yesterday that the same-sex partner of a British expatriate is entitled to equal treatment under immigration law, marking a significant step for gay rights in the city.
The unanimous judgment said the woman identified only as 鈥淨T鈥 should be issued the same dependent visa that spouses and children of other foreigners working in the Asian financial hub are entitled to.
The ruling is seen as a landmark for Hong Kong in maintaining the legal system in its status as China鈥檚 special administrative region. Although same-sex unions aren鈥檛 recognized under Hong Kong law, the city is broadly liberal in its social values and has a large foreign population.
The ruling says the policy of accepting only opposite-sex spouses as eligible for a dependent visa 鈥渃onstituted indirect discrimination.鈥
QT entered into a same-sex civil partnership in England with her partner, identified as 鈥淪S,鈥 but was given only a visitor鈥檚 visa when the couple entered Hong Kong in 2011. That did not permit her the right to work or study, despite SS meeting the financial and other requirements for sponsoring a dependent.
QT鈥檚 application for a dependent visa was denied by a lower court but approved by the Court of Appeal. The immigration department appealed that ruling, arguing that Hong Kong law only recognized marriages between men and women, but yesterday鈥檚 judgment turned that down.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
