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Subject: British gays denied chance to wed in HK Author: Âà¸ü¦Ûhk10news [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 07:17:54 04/17/06 Mon «nµØ¦­³ø 2006-04-16 EDT EDT1 DONALD ASPREY British gays denied chance to wed in HK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay British couples have been refused the right to tie the knot in same-sex civil unions in Hong Kong after the government turned down a UK proposal to offer the service. Had it been successful, homosexuals among the 3.5 million British National (Overseas) passport holders and thousands of full British citizens could have sealed a civil union at the British consulate in Admiralty. Under Britain's Civil Partnership Act, signed into law in December, British nationals are entitled to register for a civil union in British consulates and embassies around the world, pending a signal of no objection by the host country. It is understood government officials refused permission because it could have been interpreted as a move away from Hong Kong's neutral'' stance on gay marriage. A consular spokeswoman said Britain had hoped to offer the service to bestow the same legal rights for same-sex unions as for married couples under British law, covering areas such as pensions and inheritance tax. But in a memo to the consulate last week, four months after the initial request, the government said it would be inappropriate at present. A Home Affairs Bureau spokeswoman said the public might misread the government's intentions if they cleared a way up the aisle for same-sex partnerships. After long consideration, the government has decided that it would be inappropriate to allow civil unions at this time, she said. If we look at the situation in Hong Kong, society is divided on the issue of gay marriage. If we let the consulate conduct the ceremonies, the public might misunderstand the government's neutral stance. That would be undesirable. The service is already being offered in 14 countries, among them the United States, Japan and Vietnam. British national Nigel Huckstep, 51, and his partner, Paul Yan Kin-wa, 37, a BN(O) passport holder, may now travel to the UK or Vietnam to formalise their relationship, a process that will require a three-week stay or two separate journeys. I am neither surprised nor disappointed, said Mr Yan of the decision. I don't think the Hong Kong government had any say in the matter. They are merely instructed by the Chinese government, who are very conservative. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]