It's sad to see Hong Kong uphold their ban on gay marriage, with what's going on with mainland China one would think the people of Hong Kong would be more tolerant.
UPDATE 1-Hong Kong court upholds ban on same-sex civil partnerships
HONG KONG, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court upheld a ban on same-sex marriage and civil union partnerships on Friday after a lesbian identified as ‘MK’ launched the city’s first judicial challenge on the issue, stating it violated her cons utional rights.
Rights group Amnesty International described the judgement as a “bitter blow” for LGBT+ people in Hong Kong.
“Sadly, the discriminatory treatment of same-sex couples will continue for the time being,” Amnesty said in a statement.
The Court of First Instance ruled that the government was not obliged to provide an alternative legal framework such as civil unions, giving same-sex couples the equal rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex married couples.
The court said that, while there are diverse and opposing views in society, it expressed “no view on the associated social, moral and/or religious issues” and that it had adopted a strict legal approach to the matter.
sexuality has been decriminalized since 1991 in Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The city has an annual pride parade and lively gay scene.
It does not, however, recognise same-sex marriage and LGBT+ activists voice concerns about widespread discrimination. Hong Kong’s top court in June ruled in favour of a gay civil servant fighting for spousal and tax benefits for his husband.