🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 16 (from laksa174)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa016.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16017184","crawl_time":1771259726,"first_indexed_time":1757541059,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,asahi!www,\/ajw\/articles\/16017184 s443","src_root_hash":"13945909700200192816","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Years of activism resulted in a Hong Kong same-sex partnership bill, but a tough vote remains | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis","meta_descriptions":["HONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"HONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women.\nYu’s family initially struggled to accept her partner after they fell in love in 2019. Seeking both family recognition and legal rights, the couple decided to marry.\nBut rather than waiting for Hong Kong to establish its framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, citing the uncertain timeline, they opted to marry via Zoom with a U.S. officiant in May and held their ceremony in Bali, Indonesia.\nTheir concern proved prescient. Despite the top court ruling in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in 2023, the government’s proposed framework, unveiled in July, has met fierce opposition in the legislature.\nIf passed, the bill would allow residents who already have formed unions overseas to register their partnerships locally and receive rights in handling medical and after-death matters. Lawmakers are set to resume the debate Wednesday, with their vote determining the future of the city’s same-sex couples.\nYu’s wife, Gloria Tsang, said while the proposal was better than nothing, it would only benefit those who are privileged enough to afford overseas marriages and navigate foreign marriage policies.\n“The original purpose of law is to protect everyone,” Tsang said.\nThe fight for same-sex rights has taken years to gain traction in Hong Kong. The city decriminalized gay sex in 1991.\nProminent gay rights activist Jimmy Sham said that in the past some gay and lesbian people stayed on the sidelines or concealed their identities at events about gay rights.\nBut in 2005, after groups upholding traditional family values ran newspaper advertisements deemed to undermine gay and lesbian rights, more people emerged to mark International Day Against Homophobia, he said.\nPride parades, among other events, later took to the streets and gained support beyond the LGBTQ+ community.\nIn 2009, the government introduced a cohabitation relationship definition in a revision to the domestic violence law, extending protection to same-sex couples, in a move that Sham said showed political wisdom.\nSome celebrities have come out publicly and now many same-sex couples are seen holding hands in the streets, he said.\nSurveys showed 60% of respondents supported same-sex marriage in 2023 in Hong Kong, up from 38% in 2013, according to a report by university researchers. The city also hosted Asia’s first Gay Games in 2023.\nLGBTQ+ activism in Hong Kong is still making considerable progress despite a government crackdown following massive protests in 2019.\nIn recent years, multiple judicial challenges have won same-sex couples equal rights in some areas including dependent visas, civil service and subsidized housing benefits.\nIn 2023, the top court ruled in a legal challenge brought by Sham that the government should offer a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 2025. It did not grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples.\nThat victory mattered deeply to Sham who, at the time, had been in jail since 2021 for the city’s biggest national security case. The court ruling showed he could still make an impact even behind bars, he said.\n“Suddenly, I felt those emotional issues being swept away, and I’m back,” said Sham, who was released from jail in May.\nWhile many same-sex couples and advocates find the government’s proposed framework for recognizing same-sex partnership limiting, some still support its passage in the face of opposition from various lawmakers.\nPro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung described the bill as “opening a paradox box,” while her colleague Holden Chow worried the framework would effectively amount to recognizing same-sex marriages. Another legislator, Junius Ho, said the bill “would harm countless generations of our descendants.”\nThe government also reported 80% of 10,780 public opinion submissions opposed the bill, mainly citing concerns over traditional family values and the marriage system. Those backing the bill agreed the government should respect the spirit of the rule of law.\nHong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-governmental organization, said the submissions did not accurately reflect public sentiment. It noted about half of the publicly viewable submissions against the bill used standardized templates, which suggested “strong mobilization by specific groups.”\nThe government maintained the framework would not equate to marriage and argued that requiring overseas registration would provide an objective way to verify committed partnerships. It said the proposal represents the “greatest common denominator” deemed acceptable to the public.\nErick Tsang, the secretary for constitutional affairs, told lawmakers that the government must fulfill its positive obligations under the ruling, otherwise it would violate the rule of law.\nSham warned vetoing the bill could damage Hong Kong’s international status.\n“It would make the whole world question Hong Kong’s human rights stance, whether it won’t even accept such basic protections for sexual minorities,” he said.\nPro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse, who is inclined to support the bill, said the opposition seen in the legislature was greater than he had expected given the bill’s limited scope.\nIf lawmakers vote the bill down, the city would face a “mini constitutional crisis” as the judicial, administrative and legislative branches would be in a deadlock. The government would then need to report to the top court and seek time to work out other solutions, he said.\nSham previously proposed decoupling the registration system from overseas marriages to address concerns from conservative groups, but Tse cautioned that such a mechanism might trigger more concerns as some people might consider it closer to local marriage.\nIn Hong Kong, the daily life of same-sex couples is still in many ways different to that of their straight peers.\nYu has to think carefully about telling colleagues about her wife, unlike some of her foreign friends who share such details casually, while Tsang ponders whether to introduce her partner to those who are not close to her. Picking a place for getting married overseas also was a challenge.\nThe pair don’t hold high expectations about the bill’s passage. Tsang likened the lawmakers’ comments to a return to “antiquated” mindsets, saying the acceptance level might be lower than she had imagined.\nDespite the bill not being perfect, she said it would be a pity if it were vetoed as it would mark a step backwards after taking a step forward.\n“Equality means providing safeguards regardless of your background, your gender, or your position,” Yu said.","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16017184#MainInner)\n\nYour browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check [the site policy](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/help\/policy.html) for more information.\n\n# [![The Asahi Shimbun \\| Asia & Japan Watch](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/ajw\/css\/images\/en_logo@2x.png)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/)\n- [Twitter](http:\/\/twitter.com\/ajwasahi \"Twitter\")\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AJW.Asahi \"Facebook\")\n\n[Language]()\n\n- [日本語](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/)\n- English\n\n- [HOME](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/)\n- [What’s New](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/new\/)\n- [National Report](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/national_report\/)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/politics\/)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/business\/)\n- [Asia & World](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/asia_world\/)\n  - [China](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/asia_world\/china\/)\n  - [Korean Peninsula](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/asia_world\/korean_peninsula\/)\n  - [Around Asia](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/asia_world\/around_asia\/)\n  - [World](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/asia_world\/world\/)\n- [Sci & Tech](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/sci_tech\/)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/culture\/)\n  - [Style](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/culture\/style\/)\n  - [Food](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/culture\/food\/)\n  - [Movies](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/culture\/movies\/)\n  - [Manga & Anime](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/culture\/manga_anime\/)\n  - [People](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/culture\/people\/)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/travel\/)\n- [Sports](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/sports\/)\n- [Opinion](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/opinion\/)\n  - [Editorial](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/opinion\/editorial\/)\n  - [Vox Populi](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/opinion\/vox\/)\n  - [Views](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/opinion\/views\/)\n- [Special](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/special\/)\n\n[The Asahi Shimbun](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/)\n\n\\>\n\n[Asia & World](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/asia_world\/)\n\n\\>\n\n[China](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/asia_world\/china\/)\n\n\\>\n\narticle\n\n# Years of activism resulted in a Hong Kong same-sex partnership bill, but a tough vote remains\nTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS\n\nSeptember 9, 2025 at 11:50 JST\n\n- [Share]()\n- [Tweet](http:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16017184&text=Years%20of%20activism%20resulted%20in%20a%20Hong%20Kong%20same-sex%20partnership%20bill,%20but%20a%20tough%20vote%20remains%EF%BC%9AThe%20Asahi%20Shimbun) [list](http:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16017184)\n\n- [Print]()\n\n![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/7644-p\/picture\/29994861\/3a6f75bd3c27189f884c8ee7f1c59973.jpg) *Same-sex partners Jaedyn Yu, right, and Gloria Tsang wear their wedding rings in Hong Kong, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo)*\n\nHONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women.\n\nYu’s family initially struggled to accept her partner after they fell in love in 2019. Seeking both family recognition and legal rights, the couple decided to marry.\n\nBut rather than waiting for Hong Kong to establish its framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, citing the uncertain timeline, they opted to marry via Zoom with a U.S. officiant in May and held their ceremony in Bali, Indonesia.\n\nTheir concern proved prescient. Despite the top court ruling in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in 2023, the government’s proposed framework, unveiled in July, has met fierce opposition in the legislature.\n\nIf passed, the bill would allow residents who already have formed unions overseas to register their partnerships locally and receive rights in handling medical and after-death matters. Lawmakers are set to resume the debate Wednesday, with their vote determining the future of the city’s same-sex couples.\n\nYu’s wife, Gloria Tsang, said while the proposal was better than nothing, it would only benefit those who are privileged enough to afford overseas marriages and navigate foreign marriage policies.\n\n“The original purpose of law is to protect everyone,” Tsang said.\n\nThe fight for same-sex rights has taken years to gain traction in Hong Kong. The city decriminalized gay sex in 1991.\n\nProminent gay rights activist Jimmy Sham said that in the past some gay and lesbian people stayed on the sidelines or concealed their identities at events about gay rights.\n\nBut in 2005, after groups upholding traditional family values ran newspaper advertisements deemed to undermine gay and lesbian rights, more people emerged to mark International Day Against Homophobia, he said.\n\nPride parades, among other events, later took to the streets and gained support beyond the LGBTQ+ community.\n\nIn 2009, the government introduced a cohabitation relationship definition in a revision to the domestic violence law, extending protection to same-sex couples, in a move that Sham said showed political wisdom.\n\nSome celebrities have come out publicly and now many same-sex couples are seen holding hands in the streets, he said.\n\nSurveys showed 60% of respondents supported same-sex marriage in 2023 in Hong Kong, up from 38% in 2013, according to a report by university researchers. The city also hosted Asia’s first Gay Games in 2023.\n\nLGBTQ+ activism in Hong Kong is still making considerable progress despite a government crackdown following massive protests in 2019.\n\nIn recent years, multiple judicial challenges have won same-sex couples equal rights in some areas including dependent visas, civil service and subsidized housing benefits.\n\nIn 2023, the top court ruled in a legal challenge brought by Sham that the government should offer a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 2025. It did not grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples.\n\nThat victory mattered deeply to Sham who, at the time, had been in jail since 2021 for the city’s biggest national security case. The court ruling showed he could still make an impact even behind bars, he said.\n\n“Suddenly, I felt those emotional issues being swept away, and I’m back,” said Sham, who was released from jail in May.\n\nWhile many same-sex couples and advocates find the government’s proposed framework for recognizing same-sex partnership limiting, some still support its passage in the face of opposition from various lawmakers.\n\nPro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung described the bill as “opening a paradox box,” while her colleague Holden Chow worried the framework would effectively amount to recognizing same-sex marriages. Another legislator, Junius Ho, said the bill “would harm countless generations of our descendants.”\n\nThe government also reported 80% of 10,780 public opinion submissions opposed the bill, mainly citing concerns over traditional family values and the marriage system. Those backing the bill agreed the government should respect the spirit of the rule of law.\n\nHong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-governmental organization, said the submissions did not accurately reflect public sentiment. It noted about half of the publicly viewable submissions against the bill used standardized templates, which suggested “strong mobilization by specific groups.”\n\nThe government maintained the framework would not equate to marriage and argued that requiring overseas registration would provide an objective way to verify committed partnerships. It said the proposal represents the “greatest common denominator” deemed acceptable to the public.\n\nErick Tsang, the secretary for constitutional affairs, told lawmakers that the government must fulfill its positive obligations under the ruling, otherwise it would violate the rule of law.\n\nSham warned vetoing the bill could damage Hong Kong’s international status.\n\n“It would make the whole world question Hong Kong’s human rights stance, whether it won’t even accept such basic protections for sexual minorities,” he said.\n\nPro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse, who is inclined to support the bill, said the opposition seen in the legislature was greater than he had expected given the bill’s limited scope.\n\nIf lawmakers vote the bill down, the city would face a “mini constitutional crisis” as the judicial, administrative and legislative branches would be in a deadlock. The government would then need to report to the top court and seek time to work out other solutions, he said.\n\nSham previously proposed decoupling the registration system from overseas marriages to address concerns from conservative groups, but Tse cautioned that such a mechanism might trigger more concerns as some people might consider it closer to local marriage.\n\nIn Hong Kong, the daily life of same-sex couples is still in many ways different to that of their straight peers.\n\nYu has to think carefully about telling colleagues about her wife, unlike some of her foreign friends who share such details casually, while Tsang ponders whether to introduce her partner to those who are not close to her. Picking a place for getting married overseas also was a challenge.\n\nThe pair don’t hold high expectations about the bill’s passage. Tsang likened the lawmakers’ comments to a return to “antiquated” mindsets, saying the acceptance level might be lower than she had imagined.\n\nDespite the bill not being perfect, she said it would be a pity if it were vetoed as it would mark a step backwards after taking a step forward.\n\n“Equality means providing safeguards regardless of your background, your gender, or your position,” Yu said.\n\n## Related News\n- [![](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/70a0-p\/picture\/29780035\/9410f619a243c1d9480d0363ecf765fc.jpg) Hong Kong proposes recognizing same-sex partnerships formed overseas July 3, 2025](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/15882020)\n- [![](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/3393-p\/picture\/27821672\/9c1d33a54b03bd56d740deb7a13021af.jpg) Hong Kong’s top court rules in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in a landmark case September 6, 2023](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/14998516)\n- [![](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/1c59-p\/picture\/27946520\/14ab3882c8e458fea69e695d3345dd6d.jpg) Supporters celebrate opening of Gay Games in Hong Kong, first in Asia, despite lawmakers' opposition November 5, 2023](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/15048908)\n- [![](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/1e93-p\/picture\/27941060\/3cd1972a73a43eed042af5da09426ca8.jpg) Asia’s first Gay Games to kick off in Hong Kong, fostering hopes for wider LGBTQ+ inclusion November 2, 2023](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/15046910)\n- [![](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/7618-p\/picture\/28599021\/11123f309a6b4a571ee2a481f7ec6e13.jpg) A U.S. officiant marries 10 same-sex couples in Hong Kong via video chat June 27, 2024](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/15322220)\n\n- [Share]()\n- [Tweet](http:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16017184&text=Years%20of%20activism%20resulted%20in%20a%20Hong%20Kong%20same-sex%20partnership%20bill,%20but%20a%20tough%20vote%20remains%EF%BC%9AThe%20Asahi%20Shimbun) [list](http:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16017184)\n\n- [Print]()\n\n## Trending Now\nLast 24 hours\n\nLast 7 days\n\n1. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/921e-p\/picture\/30396655\/3041373321801bc3e89131d9546bf544_300px.jpg) Man accused of making and selling porn of 15-year-old girl](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16274822)\n2. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/8a8f-p\/picture\/30510912\/2153a071424afee392c4fe0b40a9d124_300px.jpg) New Enoshima Electric train to roll in crowded Kamakura](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16301714)\n3. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/9b70-p\/picture\/30395446\/ee59b4eaab839338b404062d23cb66b1_300px.jpg) Japan moves for the first time to criminalize paying for sex](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16319839)\n4. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/c74a-p\/picture\/30506300\/227bba90f31b3cfc9c344d1a1d0a70e7_300px.jpg) Meteorologists pinpoint factors for cloud types above Mt. Fuji](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16299802)\n5. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/11e2-p\/picture\/30514451\/231eeb0e19c3e524c0461544a368dc13_300px.jpg) ‘Giri-choco’ leaving a bitter taste among female workers](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16354394)\n6. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/966c-p\/picture\/30518111\/3827d5c8836f74d54240dbe7b47edb4f_300px.jpg) Anti-foreigner views exacerbated by everyday woes and social media lies](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16357139)\n7. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/a6e9-p\/picture\/30518117\/8817af77b6e9886b91c21bd693c33708_300px.jpg) 17-year-old killed, 2 injured in fatal stabbing near Glico man](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16356961)\n8. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/1046-p\/picture\/30505487\/a6dbe7995933b9231c16cc5dfe7e20cf_300px.jpg) Lumber dealer turns wood from disaster zone into ‘beautiful sounds’](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16318127)\n9. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/46fd-p\/picture\/30500291\/7b5a58c6f2644cb9ba4923491b816ec5_300px.jpg) Japan aims for world first in space-based solar power](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16293144)\n10. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/c859-p\/picture\/30518115\/d939a3b228dfb4395d64d7a5597809e3_300px.jpg) Kawazu-zakura trees now in full bloom across Izu Peninsula town](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16355918)\n\n1. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/9b70-p\/picture\/30395446\/ee59b4eaab839338b404062d23cb66b1_300px.jpg) Japan moves for the first time to criminalize paying for sex](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16319839)\n2. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/921e-p\/picture\/30396655\/3041373321801bc3e89131d9546bf544_300px.jpg) Man accused of making and selling porn of 15-year-old girl](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16274822)\n3. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/a298-p\/picture\/30493860\/5d288b9b7546eae3bed45e756a332528_300px.jpg) LDP secures supermajority in Lower House election victory](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16340376)\n4. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/048b-p\/picture\/30480870\/e6012c469c369319cf8a6dbcdd860f97_300px.jpg) Hakuba village office stymied by ‘furigana’ for foreign names](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16279075)\n5. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/384a-p\/picture\/30405107\/02794315733e7668c4a81554a6c28b3b_300px.jpg) French sex abuse expert shocked by girls in red-light district](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16242979)\n6. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/a3f5-p\/picture\/30179128\/e3d0e307d00e2337fb00d49f70218f49_300px.jpg) Suspect in 1999 stabbing death voices sympathy for the victim](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16134415)\n7. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/d842-p\/picture\/30487392\/c9323a6f36c75100cbb5bed03f240162_300px.jpg) Teacher, students team to improve English learning in high school](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16311661)\n8. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/4621-p\/picture\/30509665\/7d9db85b33ab06702aa6591c5b11229f_300px.jpg) Sakura forecast to start blooming in Tokyo first from March 21](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16351912)\n9. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/745e-p\/picture\/30506373\/c63aa6b0c1e1fd555eb074a0e7d22d2e_300px.jpg) High school baseball players probed over obscene video](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16349104)\n10. [![Photo\/Illutration](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/a5d0-p\/picture\/30498684\/1a560de6738f1264f2c1255c7ea75dd4_300px.jpg) 46 people killed in heavy snow over three weeks around Japan](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16343773)\n\n[![2026 Lower House election](https:\/\/public.potaufeu.asahi.com\/ajw\/images\/banner\/2026LowerHouseelection_300_150%201.jpg)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11039455\/)\n\n[![80 years since the end of WWII](https:\/\/public.potaufeu.asahi.com\/ajw\/images\/banner\/2025_80years_since_the_end_of_world_war_2_300_150.jpg)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11039257\/)\n\n[![Diplomat Documents](https:\/\/public.potaufeu.asahi.com\/ajw\/images\/banner\/2025DiplomatDocuments-300x150.jpg)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11037055\/)\n\n## [Videos](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/video\/)\n- [![](https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/CEMdcxo0VGo\/mqdefault.jpg) Kawazu-zakura trees now in full bloom across Izu Peninsula town February 16, 2026](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16355918)\n- [![](https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/GGoTs3zjpnE\/mqdefault.jpg) Village deploys high-tech drone to scare off bears in Fukushima February 16, 2026](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16308403)\n- [![](https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/QwA_PnEJSoY\/mqdefault.jpg) Finless porpoises filmed off Haneda Airport in Tokyo Bay February 13, 2026](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16308399)\n\n## Recommended\n- [![Photo](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/1823-p\/picture\/28885739\/e48c7314d37a7d5fbe13ce8826705aa7.jpg)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11038361\/)\n  [YOASOBI](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11038361\/)\n  \n  A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.\n- [![Photo](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/9e20-p\/picture\/28252734\/541860dfaa346e951f12716eb2643ad7.jpg)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11037055\/)\n  [Diplomatic Documents](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11037055\/)\n  \n  A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry\n- [![Photo](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/85db-p\/picture\/27383821\/1eb57ff204b7880550a35cd9eff2b84d.jpg)](http:\/\/www.asahi.com\/hibakusha\/english\/)\n  [Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki](http:\/\/www.asahi.com\/hibakusha\/english\/)\n  \n  Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.\n- [![Photo](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/b0a3-p\/picture\/26812467\/da82bba8ce177a752a1dd83ee1a38491.jpg)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11036986\/)\n  [Taste of Life](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11036986\/)\n  \n  Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.\n- [![Photo](https:\/\/p.potaufeu.asahi.com\/d4c6-p\/picture\/28252540\/a8a8c8ce9c1c502b685bd996ee06a8a5.jpg)](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11037095\/)\n  [Memories of Nikkei Americans](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/tag\/11037095\/)\n  \n  A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II\n\n[Asahi Shimbun on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=ajw%20Asahi%20Shimbun)\n\n## Learning English\n- [Asahi Weekly](http:\/\/www.asahi.com\/english\/weekly\/)\n\n[In-house News and Messages](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/inhouse_news\/)\n\n### Link\n- [The New York Times](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/)\n\n[BACK TO TOP](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16017184#Header)\n\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/help\/about.html)\n- [Site Policy](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/help\/policy.html)\n- [Privacy](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/help\/privacy.html)\n- [Copyright](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/help\/copyright.html)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/help\/privacy.html#Contact)\n- [Transmission of user information to external service providers（利用者情報の外部送信）](https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/corporate\/privacypolicy\/asadigi)\n\nSome articles on this website may contain content generated by artificial intelligence programs.\n\nCopyright © The Asahi Shimbun Company. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.","attrs_readable_markdown":"HONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women.\n\nYu’s family initially struggled to accept her partner after they fell in love in 2019. Seeking both family recognition and legal rights, the couple decided to marry.\n\nBut rather than waiting for Hong Kong to establish its framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, citing the uncertain timeline, they opted to marry via Zoom with a U.S. officiant in May and held their ceremony in Bali, Indonesia.\n\nTheir concern proved prescient. Despite the top court ruling in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in 2023, the government’s proposed framework, unveiled in July, has met fierce opposition in the legislature.\n\nIf passed, the bill would allow residents who already have formed unions overseas to register their partnerships locally and receive rights in handling medical and after-death matters. Lawmakers are set to resume the debate Wednesday, with their vote determining the future of the city’s same-sex couples.\n\nYu’s wife, Gloria Tsang, said while the proposal was better than nothing, it would only benefit those who are privileged enough to afford overseas marriages and navigate foreign marriage policies.\n\n“The original purpose of law is to protect everyone,” Tsang said.\n\nThe fight for same-sex rights has taken years to gain traction in Hong Kong. The city decriminalized gay sex in 1991.\n\nProminent gay rights activist Jimmy Sham said that in the past some gay and lesbian people stayed on the sidelines or concealed their identities at events about gay rights.\n\nBut in 2005, after groups upholding traditional family values ran newspaper advertisements deemed to undermine gay and lesbian rights, more people emerged to mark International Day Against Homophobia, he said.\n\nPride parades, among other events, later took to the streets and gained support beyond the LGBTQ+ community.\n\nIn 2009, the government introduced a cohabitation relationship definition in a revision to the domestic violence law, extending protection to same-sex couples, in a move that Sham said showed political wisdom.\n\nSome celebrities have come out publicly and now many same-sex couples are seen holding hands in the streets, he said.\n\nSurveys showed 60% of respondents supported same-sex marriage in 2023 in Hong Kong, up from 38% in 2013, according to a report by university researchers. The city also hosted Asia’s first Gay Games in 2023.\n\nLGBTQ+ activism in Hong Kong is still making considerable progress despite a government crackdown following massive protests in 2019.\n\nIn recent years, multiple judicial challenges have won same-sex couples equal rights in some areas including dependent visas, civil service and subsidized housing benefits.\n\nIn 2023, the top court ruled in a legal challenge brought by Sham that the government should offer a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 2025. It did not grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples.\n\nThat victory mattered deeply to Sham who, at the time, had been in jail since 2021 for the city’s biggest national security case. The court ruling showed he could still make an impact even behind bars, he said.\n\n“Suddenly, I felt those emotional issues being swept away, and I’m back,” said Sham, who was released from jail in May.\n\nWhile many same-sex couples and advocates find the government’s proposed framework for recognizing same-sex partnership limiting, some still support its passage in the face of opposition from various lawmakers.\n\nPro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung described the bill as “opening a paradox box,” while her colleague Holden Chow worried the framework would effectively amount to recognizing same-sex marriages. Another legislator, Junius Ho, said the bill “would harm countless generations of our descendants.”\n\nThe government also reported 80% of 10,780 public opinion submissions opposed the bill, mainly citing concerns over traditional family values and the marriage system. Those backing the bill agreed the government should respect the spirit of the rule of law.\n\nHong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-governmental organization, said the submissions did not accurately reflect public sentiment. It noted about half of the publicly viewable submissions against the bill used standardized templates, which suggested “strong mobilization by specific groups.”\n\nThe government maintained the framework would not equate to marriage and argued that requiring overseas registration would provide an objective way to verify committed partnerships. It said the proposal represents the “greatest common denominator” deemed acceptable to the public.\n\nErick Tsang, the secretary for constitutional affairs, told lawmakers that the government must fulfill its positive obligations under the ruling, otherwise it would violate the rule of law.\n\nSham warned vetoing the bill could damage Hong Kong’s international status.\n\n“It would make the whole world question Hong Kong’s human rights stance, whether it won’t even accept such basic protections for sexual minorities,” he said.\n\nPro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse, who is inclined to support the bill, said the opposition seen in the legislature was greater than he had expected given the bill’s limited scope.\n\nIf lawmakers vote the bill down, the city would face a “mini constitutional crisis” as the judicial, administrative and legislative branches would be in a deadlock. The government would then need to report to the top court and seek time to work out other solutions, he said.\n\nSham previously proposed decoupling the registration system from overseas marriages to address concerns from conservative groups, but Tse cautioned that such a mechanism might trigger more concerns as some people might consider it closer to local marriage.\n\nIn Hong Kong, the daily life of same-sex couples is still in many ways different to that of their straight peers.\n\nYu has to think carefully about telling colleagues about her wife, unlike some of her foreign friends who share such details casually, while Tsang ponders whether to introduce her partner to those who are not close to her. Picking a place for getting married overseas also was a challenge.\n\nThe pair don’t hold high expectations about the bill’s passage. Tsang likened the lawmakers’ comments to a return to “antiquated” mindsets, saying the acceptance level might be lower than she had imagined.\n\nDespite the bill not being perfect, she said it would be a pity if it were vetoed as it would mark a step backwards after taking a step forward.\n\n“Equality means providing safeguards regardless of your background, your gender, or your position,” Yu said.","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

1 month ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	1.8 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184
Last Crawled	2026-02-16 16:35:26 (1 month ago)
First Indexed	2025-09-10 21:50:59 (7 months ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Years of activism resulted in a Hong Kong same-sex partnership bill, but a tough vote remains \| The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Meta Description	HONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	HONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women. Yu’s family initially struggled to accept her partner after they fell in love in 2019. Seeking both family recognition and legal rights, the couple decided to marry. But rather than waiting for Hong Kong to establish its framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, citing the uncertain timeline, they opted to marry via Zoom with a U.S. officiant in May and held their ceremony in Bali, Indonesia. Their concern proved prescient. Despite the top court ruling in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in 2023, the government’s proposed framework, unveiled in July, has met fierce opposition in the legislature. If passed, the bill would allow residents who already have formed unions overseas to register their partnerships locally and receive rights in handling medical and after-death matters. Lawmakers are set to resume the debate Wednesday, with their vote determining the future of the city’s same-sex couples. Yu’s wife, Gloria Tsang, said while the proposal was better than nothing, it would only benefit those who are privileged enough to afford overseas marriages and navigate foreign marriage policies. “The original purpose of law is to protect everyone,” Tsang said. The fight for same-sex rights has taken years to gain traction in Hong Kong. The city decriminalized gay sex in 1991. Prominent gay rights activist Jimmy Sham said that in the past some gay and lesbian people stayed on the sidelines or concealed their identities at events about gay rights. But in 2005, after groups upholding traditional family values ran newspaper advertisements deemed to undermine gay and lesbian rights, more people emerged to mark International Day Against Homophobia, he said. Pride parades, among other events, later took to the streets and gained support beyond the LGBTQ+ community. In 2009, the government introduced a cohabitation relationship definition in a revision to the domestic violence law, extending protection to same-sex couples, in a move that Sham said showed political wisdom. Some celebrities have come out publicly and now many same-sex couples are seen holding hands in the streets, he said. Surveys showed 60% of respondents supported same-sex marriage in 2023 in Hong Kong, up from 38% in 2013, according to a report by university researchers. The city also hosted Asia’s first Gay Games in 2023. LGBTQ+ activism in Hong Kong is still making considerable progress despite a government crackdown following massive protests in 2019. In recent years, multiple judicial challenges have won same-sex couples equal rights in some areas including dependent visas, civil service and subsidized housing benefits. In 2023, the top court ruled in a legal challenge brought by Sham that the government should offer a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 2025. It did not grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples. That victory mattered deeply to Sham who, at the time, had been in jail since 2021 for the city’s biggest national security case. The court ruling showed he could still make an impact even behind bars, he said. “Suddenly, I felt those emotional issues being swept away, and I’m back,” said Sham, who was released from jail in May. While many same-sex couples and advocates find the government’s proposed framework for recognizing same-sex partnership limiting, some still support its passage in the face of opposition from various lawmakers. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung described the bill as “opening a paradox box,” while her colleague Holden Chow worried the framework would effectively amount to recognizing same-sex marriages. Another legislator, Junius Ho, said the bill “would harm countless generations of our descendants.” The government also reported 80% of 10,780 public opinion submissions opposed the bill, mainly citing concerns over traditional family values and the marriage system. Those backing the bill agreed the government should respect the spirit of the rule of law. Hong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-governmental organization, said the submissions did not accurately reflect public sentiment. It noted about half of the publicly viewable submissions against the bill used standardized templates, which suggested “strong mobilization by specific groups.” The government maintained the framework would not equate to marriage and argued that requiring overseas registration would provide an objective way to verify committed partnerships. It said the proposal represents the “greatest common denominator” deemed acceptable to the public. Erick Tsang, the secretary for constitutional affairs, told lawmakers that the government must fulfill its positive obligations under the ruling, otherwise it would violate the rule of law. Sham warned vetoing the bill could damage Hong Kong’s international status. “It would make the whole world question Hong Kong’s human rights stance, whether it won’t even accept such basic protections for sexual minorities,” he said. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse, who is inclined to support the bill, said the opposition seen in the legislature was greater than he had expected given the bill’s limited scope. If lawmakers vote the bill down, the city would face a “mini constitutional crisis” as the judicial, administrative and legislative branches would be in a deadlock. The government would then need to report to the top court and seek time to work out other solutions, he said. Sham previously proposed decoupling the registration system from overseas marriages to address concerns from conservative groups, but Tse cautioned that such a mechanism might trigger more concerns as some people might consider it closer to local marriage. In Hong Kong, the daily life of same-sex couples is still in many ways different to that of their straight peers. Yu has to think carefully about telling colleagues about her wife, unlike some of her foreign friends who share such details casually, while Tsang ponders whether to introduce her partner to those who are not close to her. Picking a place for getting married overseas also was a challenge. The pair don’t hold high expectations about the bill’s passage. Tsang likened the lawmakers’ comments to a return to “antiquated” mindsets, saying the acceptance level might be lower than she had imagined. Despite the bill not being perfect, she said it would be a pity if it were vetoed as it would mark a step backwards after taking a step forward. “Equality means providing safeguards regardless of your background, your gender, or your position,” Yu said.
Markdown	[Skip to content](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184#MainInner) Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check [the site policy](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/help/policy.html) for more information. # [![The Asahi Shimbun \\| Asia & Japan Watch](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/ajw/css/images/en_logo@2x.png)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/) - [Twitter](http://twitter.com/ajwasahi "Twitter") - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AJW.Asahi "Facebook") [Language]() - [日本語](https://www.asahi.com/) - English - [HOME](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/) - [What’s New](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/new/) - [National Report](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/national_report/) - [Politics](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/politics/) - [Business](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/business/) - [Asia & World](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/asia_world/) - [China](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/asia_world/china/) - [Korean Peninsula](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/asia_world/korean_peninsula/) - [Around Asia](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/asia_world/around_asia/) - [World](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/asia_world/world/) - [Sci & Tech](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/sci_tech/) - [Culture](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/culture/) - [Style](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/culture/style/) - [Food](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/culture/food/) - [Movies](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/culture/movies/) - [Manga & Anime](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/culture/manga_anime/) - [People](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/culture/people/) - [Travel](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/travel/) - [Sports](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/sports/) - [Opinion](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/opinion/) - [Editorial](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/opinion/editorial/) - [Vox Populi](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/opinion/vox/) - [Views](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/opinion/views/) - [Special](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/special/) [The Asahi Shimbun](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/) \> [Asia & World](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/asia_world/) \> [China](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/asia_world/china/) \> article # Years of activism resulted in a Hong Kong same-sex partnership bill, but a tough vote remains THE ASSOCIATED PRESS September 9, 2025 at 11:50 JST - [Share]() - [Tweet](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184&text=Years%20of%20activism%20resulted%20in%20a%20Hong%20Kong%20same-sex%20partnership%20bill,%20but%20a%20tough%20vote%20remains%EF%BC%9AThe%20Asahi%20Shimbun) [list](http://twitter.com/search?q=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184) - [Print]() ![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/7644-p/picture/29994861/3a6f75bd3c27189f884c8ee7f1c59973.jpg) Same-sex partners Jaedyn Yu, right, and Gloria Tsang wear their wedding rings in Hong Kong, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo) HONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women. Yu’s family initially struggled to accept her partner after they fell in love in 2019. Seeking both family recognition and legal rights, the couple decided to marry. But rather than waiting for Hong Kong to establish its framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, citing the uncertain timeline, they opted to marry via Zoom with a U.S. officiant in May and held their ceremony in Bali, Indonesia. Their concern proved prescient. Despite the top court ruling in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in 2023, the government’s proposed framework, unveiled in July, has met fierce opposition in the legislature. If passed, the bill would allow residents who already have formed unions overseas to register their partnerships locally and receive rights in handling medical and after-death matters. Lawmakers are set to resume the debate Wednesday, with their vote determining the future of the city’s same-sex couples. Yu’s wife, Gloria Tsang, said while the proposal was better than nothing, it would only benefit those who are privileged enough to afford overseas marriages and navigate foreign marriage policies. “The original purpose of law is to protect everyone,” Tsang said. The fight for same-sex rights has taken years to gain traction in Hong Kong. The city decriminalized gay sex in 1991. Prominent gay rights activist Jimmy Sham said that in the past some gay and lesbian people stayed on the sidelines or concealed their identities at events about gay rights. But in 2005, after groups upholding traditional family values ran newspaper advertisements deemed to undermine gay and lesbian rights, more people emerged to mark International Day Against Homophobia, he said. Pride parades, among other events, later took to the streets and gained support beyond the LGBTQ+ community. In 2009, the government introduced a cohabitation relationship definition in a revision to the domestic violence law, extending protection to same-sex couples, in a move that Sham said showed political wisdom. Some celebrities have come out publicly and now many same-sex couples are seen holding hands in the streets, he said. Surveys showed 60% of respondents supported same-sex marriage in 2023 in Hong Kong, up from 38% in 2013, according to a report by university researchers. The city also hosted Asia’s first Gay Games in 2023. LGBTQ+ activism in Hong Kong is still making considerable progress despite a government crackdown following massive protests in 2019. In recent years, multiple judicial challenges have won same-sex couples equal rights in some areas including dependent visas, civil service and subsidized housing benefits. In 2023, the top court ruled in a legal challenge brought by Sham that the government should offer a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 2025. It did not grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples. That victory mattered deeply to Sham who, at the time, had been in jail since 2021 for the city’s biggest national security case. The court ruling showed he could still make an impact even behind bars, he said. “Suddenly, I felt those emotional issues being swept away, and I’m back,” said Sham, who was released from jail in May. While many same-sex couples and advocates find the government’s proposed framework for recognizing same-sex partnership limiting, some still support its passage in the face of opposition from various lawmakers. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung described the bill as “opening a paradox box,” while her colleague Holden Chow worried the framework would effectively amount to recognizing same-sex marriages. Another legislator, Junius Ho, said the bill “would harm countless generations of our descendants.” The government also reported 80% of 10,780 public opinion submissions opposed the bill, mainly citing concerns over traditional family values and the marriage system. Those backing the bill agreed the government should respect the spirit of the rule of law. Hong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-governmental organization, said the submissions did not accurately reflect public sentiment. It noted about half of the publicly viewable submissions against the bill used standardized templates, which suggested “strong mobilization by specific groups.” The government maintained the framework would not equate to marriage and argued that requiring overseas registration would provide an objective way to verify committed partnerships. It said the proposal represents the “greatest common denominator” deemed acceptable to the public. Erick Tsang, the secretary for constitutional affairs, told lawmakers that the government must fulfill its positive obligations under the ruling, otherwise it would violate the rule of law. Sham warned vetoing the bill could damage Hong Kong’s international status. “It would make the whole world question Hong Kong’s human rights stance, whether it won’t even accept such basic protections for sexual minorities,” he said. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse, who is inclined to support the bill, said the opposition seen in the legislature was greater than he had expected given the bill’s limited scope. If lawmakers vote the bill down, the city would face a “mini constitutional crisis” as the judicial, administrative and legislative branches would be in a deadlock. The government would then need to report to the top court and seek time to work out other solutions, he said. Sham previously proposed decoupling the registration system from overseas marriages to address concerns from conservative groups, but Tse cautioned that such a mechanism might trigger more concerns as some people might consider it closer to local marriage. In Hong Kong, the daily life of same-sex couples is still in many ways different to that of their straight peers. Yu has to think carefully about telling colleagues about her wife, unlike some of her foreign friends who share such details casually, while Tsang ponders whether to introduce her partner to those who are not close to her. Picking a place for getting married overseas also was a challenge. The pair don’t hold high expectations about the bill’s passage. Tsang likened the lawmakers’ comments to a return to “antiquated” mindsets, saying the acceptance level might be lower than she had imagined. Despite the bill not being perfect, she said it would be a pity if it were vetoed as it would mark a step backwards after taking a step forward. “Equality means providing safeguards regardless of your background, your gender, or your position,” Yu said. ## Related News - [![](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/70a0-p/picture/29780035/9410f619a243c1d9480d0363ecf765fc.jpg) Hong Kong proposes recognizing same-sex partnerships formed overseas July 3, 2025](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15882020) - [![](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/3393-p/picture/27821672/9c1d33a54b03bd56d740deb7a13021af.jpg) Hong Kong’s top court rules in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in a landmark case September 6, 2023](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14998516) - [![](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/1c59-p/picture/27946520/14ab3882c8e458fea69e695d3345dd6d.jpg) Supporters celebrate opening of Gay Games in Hong Kong, first in Asia, despite lawmakers' opposition November 5, 2023](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15048908) - [![](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/1e93-p/picture/27941060/3cd1972a73a43eed042af5da09426ca8.jpg) Asia’s first Gay Games to kick off in Hong Kong, fostering hopes for wider LGBTQ+ inclusion November 2, 2023](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15046910) - [![](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/7618-p/picture/28599021/11123f309a6b4a571ee2a481f7ec6e13.jpg) A U.S. officiant marries 10 same-sex couples in Hong Kong via video chat June 27, 2024](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15322220) - [Share]() - [Tweet](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184&text=Years%20of%20activism%20resulted%20in%20a%20Hong%20Kong%20same-sex%20partnership%20bill,%20but%20a%20tough%20vote%20remains%EF%BC%9AThe%20Asahi%20Shimbun) [list](http://twitter.com/search?q=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184) - [Print]() ## Trending Now Last 24 hours Last 7 days 1. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/921e-p/picture/30396655/3041373321801bc3e89131d9546bf544_300px.jpg) Man accused of making and selling porn of 15-year-old girl](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16274822) 2. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/8a8f-p/picture/30510912/2153a071424afee392c4fe0b40a9d124_300px.jpg) New Enoshima Electric train to roll in crowded Kamakura](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16301714) 3. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/9b70-p/picture/30395446/ee59b4eaab839338b404062d23cb66b1_300px.jpg) Japan moves for the first time to criminalize paying for sex](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16319839) 4. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/c74a-p/picture/30506300/227bba90f31b3cfc9c344d1a1d0a70e7_300px.jpg) Meteorologists pinpoint factors for cloud types above Mt. Fuji](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16299802) 5. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/11e2-p/picture/30514451/231eeb0e19c3e524c0461544a368dc13_300px.jpg) ‘Giri-choco’ leaving a bitter taste among female workers](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16354394) 6. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/966c-p/picture/30518111/3827d5c8836f74d54240dbe7b47edb4f_300px.jpg) Anti-foreigner views exacerbated by everyday woes and social media lies](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16357139) 7. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/a6e9-p/picture/30518117/8817af77b6e9886b91c21bd693c33708_300px.jpg) 17-year-old killed, 2 injured in fatal stabbing near Glico man](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16356961) 8. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/1046-p/picture/30505487/a6dbe7995933b9231c16cc5dfe7e20cf_300px.jpg) Lumber dealer turns wood from disaster zone into ‘beautiful sounds’](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16318127) 9. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/46fd-p/picture/30500291/7b5a58c6f2644cb9ba4923491b816ec5_300px.jpg) Japan aims for world first in space-based solar power](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16293144) 10. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/c859-p/picture/30518115/d939a3b228dfb4395d64d7a5597809e3_300px.jpg) Kawazu-zakura trees now in full bloom across Izu Peninsula town](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16355918) 1. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/9b70-p/picture/30395446/ee59b4eaab839338b404062d23cb66b1_300px.jpg) Japan moves for the first time to criminalize paying for sex](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16319839) 2. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/921e-p/picture/30396655/3041373321801bc3e89131d9546bf544_300px.jpg) Man accused of making and selling porn of 15-year-old girl](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16274822) 3. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/a298-p/picture/30493860/5d288b9b7546eae3bed45e756a332528_300px.jpg) LDP secures supermajority in Lower House election victory](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16340376) 4. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/048b-p/picture/30480870/e6012c469c369319cf8a6dbcdd860f97_300px.jpg) Hakuba village office stymied by ‘furigana’ for foreign names](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16279075) 5. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/384a-p/picture/30405107/02794315733e7668c4a81554a6c28b3b_300px.jpg) French sex abuse expert shocked by girls in red-light district](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16242979) 6. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/a3f5-p/picture/30179128/e3d0e307d00e2337fb00d49f70218f49_300px.jpg) Suspect in 1999 stabbing death voices sympathy for the victim](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16134415) 7. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/d842-p/picture/30487392/c9323a6f36c75100cbb5bed03f240162_300px.jpg) Teacher, students team to improve English learning in high school](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16311661) 8. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/4621-p/picture/30509665/7d9db85b33ab06702aa6591c5b11229f_300px.jpg) Sakura forecast to start blooming in Tokyo first from March 21](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16351912) 9. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/745e-p/picture/30506373/c63aa6b0c1e1fd555eb074a0e7d22d2e_300px.jpg) High school baseball players probed over obscene video](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16349104) 10. [![Photo/Illutration](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/a5d0-p/picture/30498684/1a560de6738f1264f2c1255c7ea75dd4_300px.jpg) 46 people killed in heavy snow over three weeks around Japan](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16343773) [![2026 Lower House election](https://public.potaufeu.asahi.com/ajw/images/banner/2026LowerHouseelection_300_150%201.jpg)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11039455/) [![80 years since the end of WWII](https://public.potaufeu.asahi.com/ajw/images/banner/2025_80years_since_the_end_of_world_war_2_300_150.jpg)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11039257/) [![Diplomat Documents](https://public.potaufeu.asahi.com/ajw/images/banner/2025DiplomatDocuments-300x150.jpg)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11037055/) ## [Videos](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/video/) - [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CEMdcxo0VGo/mqdefault.jpg) Kawazu-zakura trees now in full bloom across Izu Peninsula town February 16, 2026](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16355918) - [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GGoTs3zjpnE/mqdefault.jpg) Village deploys high-tech drone to scare off bears in Fukushima February 16, 2026](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16308403) - [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QwA_PnEJSoY/mqdefault.jpg) Finless porpoises filmed off Haneda Airport in Tokyo Bay February 13, 2026](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16308399) ## Recommended - [![Photo](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/1823-p/picture/28885739/e48c7314d37a7d5fbe13ce8826705aa7.jpg)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11038361/) [YOASOBI](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11038361/) A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global. - [![Photo](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/9e20-p/picture/28252734/541860dfaa346e951f12716eb2643ad7.jpg)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11037055/) [Diplomatic Documents](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11037055/) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry - [![Photo](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/85db-p/picture/27383821/1eb57ff204b7880550a35cd9eff2b84d.jpg)](http://www.asahi.com/hibakusha/english/) [Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki](http://www.asahi.com/hibakusha/english/) Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors. - [![Photo](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/b0a3-p/picture/26812467/da82bba8ce177a752a1dd83ee1a38491.jpg)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11036986/) [Taste of Life](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11036986/) Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life. - [![Photo](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/d4c6-p/picture/28252540/a8a8c8ce9c1c502b685bd996ee06a8a5.jpg)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11037095/) [Memories of Nikkei Americans](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/tag/11037095/) A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II [Asahi Shimbun on Twitter](https://twitter.com/search?q=ajw%20Asahi%20Shimbun) ## Learning English - [Asahi Weekly](http://www.asahi.com/english/weekly/) [In-house News and Messages](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/inhouse_news/) ### Link - [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/) [BACK TO TOP](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16017184#Header) - [About Us](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/help/about.html) - [Site Policy](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/help/policy.html) - [Privacy](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/help/privacy.html) - [Copyright](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/help/copyright.html) - [Contact Us](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/help/privacy.html#Contact) - [Transmission of user information to external service providers（利用者情報の外部送信）](https://www.asahi.com/corporate/privacypolicy/asadigi) Some articles on this website may contain content generated by artificial intelligence programs. Copyright © The Asahi Shimbun Company. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.
Readable Markdown	HONG KONG--At her wedding, Jaedyn Yu felt her father’s tears marked a subtle yet touching shift in his attitude toward love between two women. Yu’s family initially struggled to accept her partner after they fell in love in 2019. Seeking both family recognition and legal rights, the couple decided to marry. But rather than waiting for Hong Kong to establish its framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, citing the uncertain timeline, they opted to marry via Zoom with a U.S. officiant in May and held their ceremony in Bali, Indonesia. Their concern proved prescient. Despite the top court ruling in favor of recognizing same-sex partnerships in 2023, the government’s proposed framework, unveiled in July, has met fierce opposition in the legislature. If passed, the bill would allow residents who already have formed unions overseas to register their partnerships locally and receive rights in handling medical and after-death matters. Lawmakers are set to resume the debate Wednesday, with their vote determining the future of the city’s same-sex couples. Yu’s wife, Gloria Tsang, said while the proposal was better than nothing, it would only benefit those who are privileged enough to afford overseas marriages and navigate foreign marriage policies. “The original purpose of law is to protect everyone,” Tsang said. The fight for same-sex rights has taken years to gain traction in Hong Kong. The city decriminalized gay sex in 1991. Prominent gay rights activist Jimmy Sham said that in the past some gay and lesbian people stayed on the sidelines or concealed their identities at events about gay rights. But in 2005, after groups upholding traditional family values ran newspaper advertisements deemed to undermine gay and lesbian rights, more people emerged to mark International Day Against Homophobia, he said. Pride parades, among other events, later took to the streets and gained support beyond the LGBTQ+ community. In 2009, the government introduced a cohabitation relationship definition in a revision to the domestic violence law, extending protection to same-sex couples, in a move that Sham said showed political wisdom. Some celebrities have come out publicly and now many same-sex couples are seen holding hands in the streets, he said. Surveys showed 60% of respondents supported same-sex marriage in 2023 in Hong Kong, up from 38% in 2013, according to a report by university researchers. The city also hosted Asia’s first Gay Games in 2023. LGBTQ+ activism in Hong Kong is still making considerable progress despite a government crackdown following massive protests in 2019. In recent years, multiple judicial challenges have won same-sex couples equal rights in some areas including dependent visas, civil service and subsidized housing benefits. In 2023, the top court ruled in a legal challenge brought by Sham that the government should offer a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 2025. It did not grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples. That victory mattered deeply to Sham who, at the time, had been in jail since 2021 for the city’s biggest national security case. The court ruling showed he could still make an impact even behind bars, he said. “Suddenly, I felt those emotional issues being swept away, and I’m back,” said Sham, who was released from jail in May. While many same-sex couples and advocates find the government’s proposed framework for recognizing same-sex partnership limiting, some still support its passage in the face of opposition from various lawmakers. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung described the bill as “opening a paradox box,” while her colleague Holden Chow worried the framework would effectively amount to recognizing same-sex marriages. Another legislator, Junius Ho, said the bill “would harm countless generations of our descendants.” The government also reported 80% of 10,780 public opinion submissions opposed the bill, mainly citing concerns over traditional family values and the marriage system. Those backing the bill agreed the government should respect the spirit of the rule of law. Hong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-governmental organization, said the submissions did not accurately reflect public sentiment. It noted about half of the publicly viewable submissions against the bill used standardized templates, which suggested “strong mobilization by specific groups.” The government maintained the framework would not equate to marriage and argued that requiring overseas registration would provide an objective way to verify committed partnerships. It said the proposal represents the “greatest common denominator” deemed acceptable to the public. Erick Tsang, the secretary for constitutional affairs, told lawmakers that the government must fulfill its positive obligations under the ruling, otherwise it would violate the rule of law. Sham warned vetoing the bill could damage Hong Kong’s international status. “It would make the whole world question Hong Kong’s human rights stance, whether it won’t even accept such basic protections for sexual minorities,” he said. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse, who is inclined to support the bill, said the opposition seen in the legislature was greater than he had expected given the bill’s limited scope. If lawmakers vote the bill down, the city would face a “mini constitutional crisis” as the judicial, administrative and legislative branches would be in a deadlock. The government would then need to report to the top court and seek time to work out other solutions, he said. Sham previously proposed decoupling the registration system from overseas marriages to address concerns from conservative groups, but Tse cautioned that such a mechanism might trigger more concerns as some people might consider it closer to local marriage. In Hong Kong, the daily life of same-sex couples is still in many ways different to that of their straight peers. Yu has to think carefully about telling colleagues about her wife, unlike some of her foreign friends who share such details casually, while Tsang ponders whether to introduce her partner to those who are not close to her. Picking a place for getting married overseas also was a challenge. The pair don’t hold high expectations about the bill’s passage. Tsang likened the lawmakers’ comments to a return to “antiquated” mindsets, saying the acceptance level might be lower than she had imagined. Despite the bill not being perfect, she said it would be a pity if it were vetoed as it would mark a step backwards after taking a step forward. “Equality means providing safeguards regardless of your background, your gender, or your position,” Yu said.
Shard	16 (laksa)
Root Hash	13945909700200192816
Unparsed URL	com,asahi!www,/ajw/articles/16017184 s443