Court Ruling Won't Bring Gay Marriage: Holden Chow

DAB lawmaker Holden Chow said on Thursday that he was concerned that some people will get the idea that Hong Kong is inching towards legalising gay marriage, insisting that a court ruling on same-sex spousal benefits for government workers does not make such a move any more likely.

Chow said he respected the Court of Final Appeal decision, even though he disagreed with it, but in any case it doesn't alter the fact that Hong Kong only recognises marriages between one man and one woman.

A five-judge panel has shot down the government's arguments for denying the partners of gay civil servants benefits such as medical and dental care, and has ruled that such differential treatment had in no way protected the institution of traditional marriage.

The man behind the appeal, immigration officer Leung Chun-kwong, also won the right to opt for joint tax assessment with his husband Scott Adams, who he married in New Zealand five years ago.

But Chow, a former member of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said he feared the ruling will fundamentally change the distribution of social welfare in the SAR.

And despite some seeing the court's decision as a major victory for Hong Kong's LGBT community, Chow said it was not a move towards introducing gay marriage and the judges had been silent on this.

"Inevitably there will be some sort of perception in society towards some sort of same-sex marriage. But the court does not provide any opinion on changing our current marriage system," Chow said.

Business and Professional Alliance lawmaker Priscilla Leung described the top court’s ruling as a "blow to traditional beliefs."

She said the case was not an issue regarding discrimination, and denying gay people spousal benefits and joint tax filings is quite common in places that don't have same-sex marriage.

Leung added that she hopes Hong Kong doesn't make the same mistake as Taiwan by legalising gay marriage.

Meanwhile, Roger Wong who leads the anti-gay rights Family School Sexual Orientation Discrimination Ordinance Concern Group, said the court ruling is a violation of his human rights.

"It is violating the human rights of those who disagree with same-sex relationships," Wong said.

"I am a taxpayer and some of my tax paid to the government is being used to sponsor the relationships of these homosexual partners ... that's why I call it a violation of freedom of conscience."

Last week, the High Court heard a case brought by a Hong Kong woman seeking the right to marry or have a civil union with her female partner. The judge's ruling has not yet been announced.