More than 50% of people support same-sex marriage in Hong Kong. | Photo: Instagram/@Pink Dot
It seems the tide is shifting in support of LGBTI issues in Hong Kong. A new study has shown public opinion on same-sex couples’ rights has changed significantly in recent years.
In 2013, only 38% people said that same-sex couples should be permitted to marry.
But in the most recent survey more than half agreed that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married.
Another encouraging statistic showed 78% of people thought same-sex couples should have at least some of the same rights as straight couples. That’s a jump of 5% since 2013.
Also, 69% of people said Hong Kong should have a law to protect against sexual orientation discrimination. In 2013, only 58% of people agreed.
Support grows a lot in a short time
‘Our study shows that support for the rights of same-sex couples has grown markedly over a short period,” said Professor Yiu-tung Suen from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
‘A few years’ time has made a significant difference.’
The Centre for Comparative and Public Law carried out the research alongside researchers fromRTI International and the University of North Carolina.
They conducted phone interviews from a representative sample of Hong Kong residents in 2013, and again in 2017.
‘Our study also illuminates a discrepancy between law and public opinion,’ said Kelley Loper from the University of Hong Kong.
‘While 69% of Hong Kong people said they favor having a law to protect against sexual orientation discrimination, the government of Hong Kong has yet to enact such legislation.’
A big day for Hong Kong
The university released the survey results on the same day as a historic court decision. The Court of Final Appeal ruled foreign same-sex couples should be entitled to the same visas as straight couples.
British woman QT had battled the Immigration Department for almost six years. The department denied her a dependent visa, because Hong Kong did not recognize her UK marriage to a woman.
The university research found that many people in Hong Kong supported QT’s pursuit to get equal access to visas.
