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Hong Kong's Top Court Makes Landmark Ruling in LGBT Rights Case

by VOA News

   In a historic decision that could lead to greater rights for Hong
   Kong's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, the
   territory's high court has ruled that the same-sex partner of a British
   expatriate should be granted a spousal visa.

   The Court of Final Appeal ruled Wednesday that the woman, identified in
   court papers only by the initials QT, should be issued a visa that
   would grant her resident status and allowed her to work in the
   Chinese-held territory, which maintains a high degree of autonomy,
   including an independent judiciary.

   QT and her partner entered into a same-sex civil partnership in Britain
   in 2011, but was only granted a visitor's visa when the couple moved to
   Hong Kong later that year, which prevented QT from working.

   The court said in its ruling that the government's policy of rejecting
   same-sex partners was counter-productive and amounted to "indirect
   discrimination."

   QT's effort was supported by dozens of top financial institutions,
   including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

   Although same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Hong Kong,
   recent opinion surveys show support for the institution have been
   steadily rising.