Hong Kong Immigration Department in Wan Chai (Photo: Wikipedia)
Same-sex spouses will be able to apply for dependent visas to stay with their partners in Hong Kong from Wednesday (19 September). The government will change its visa policy in line with a historic legal ruling in July this year.
The new policy means anyone who entered legal and officially recognized same-sex civil partnerships, civil unions or marriages overseas could apply for spousal visas. This is providing that themselves and their partners fulfill existing requirements.
A British woman known as QT won a seven year battle with the Immigration Department. The Court of Final Appeal ruled in QT’s favor that she should be granted a dependency visa because her wife had been employed in Hong Kong.
In the unanimous ruling, the Court agreed that denying QT a dependent visa was unconstitutional.
But, the Immigration Department stressed, this week’s move did not change the meaning of ‘spouse’ in Hong Kong.
‘The revision has nothing to do with legal recognition of same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, ‘same-sex marriage’, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union in Hong Kong’ an immigration spokesperson said.
‘Love Wins’
LGBTI lawmaker Ray Chan was among the first to welcome the government move. ‘Welcome to #HongKong!’ he wrote on Twitter.
Starting tomorrow, eligible same-sex dependents may apply for visas to stay with their spouses and partners. Welcome to #HongKong!Congratulations! #LoveWins https://t.co/yWxXq0V7kt
— Ray Chan (@ray_slowbeat) September 18, 2018
LGBTI group Big Love Alliance welcomed the ruling a Facebook post. But significantly, they reminded everyone that the government only changed because it was forced to by the courts.
‘There is still a long way to go for same sex marriage in Hong Kong’ the post said.