Global Financiers And Amnesty International Support LGBT Expat Spousal Visa Battle

Published:  12 Apr at 3 PM
Want to get involved?

Become a

Featured Expat

and take our interview.

Become a

Local Expert

and contribute articles.

Get in

touch

today!

After winning her landmark case, brought to obtain a dependent visa allowing her to live in Hong Kong with her partner, an LGBT expat is now forced to fight for her rights again as the Hong Kong government has granted the state license to appeal.

Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal will hear the government’s case for denying the dependent visa on 5 June, but in the meantime no less than 16 local law firms as well as Amnesty International and many international financial companies have come out in favour of the lesbian woman and her partner. The original court’s verdict upended the Hong Kong Immigration department’s usual practice of only granting dependent visas to heterosexual spouses, and was considered a landmark ruling for gay men and women.

Known only as QT in order to protect her identity, the expat told the media she and her partner’s lives are still on hold. A British citizen, QT legally entered her civil partnership some months before her partner was offered a job in Hong Kong. Expecting to get a spousal visa, she applied for a judicial review after being notified of immigration’s refusal. Her appeal was rejected by the Court of First Appeal, but she won at the Court of Appeal, with the court ruling immigration’s decision amounted to discrimination.

Immediately, the Hong Kong government lodged a final appeal. By this time, Amnesty International and a large selection of global financial institutions including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, as well as 16 Hong Kong law firms were already involved, but were not permitted to speak in court on QT’s behalf. According to QT’s lawyer Michael Vidner, written arguments in her favour from all her supporters will again need to be approved before they can be heard in court, with many of her supporters having substantial business and other interests in the city. The submissions are expected to include explanations of how Hong Kong’s restrictive immigration rules are impacting their businesses.



Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...

Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!

Tell us Your Thoughts On This Piece:

RECENT NEWS

Celebrating Hanukkah In The Netherlands

As the year draws to a close and more and more of your daily life is conducted in the darkness of winter, the Jewish fes... Read more

Why The Netherlands Is The Best Place For Expats To Start A Business

Practica Coaching offers various coaching programmes, tailored to help you take that next step in your career or to help... Read more

How To Deal With Difficult People At Work

I was brought to tears by my boss once in my life. I was 21, inexperienced and a bit naive - just like a 21-year-old sho... Read more

7 Dutch Christmas Traditions To Incorporate Into Your Festivities

Whether this is your first Christmas in the Netherlands or you just want to start celebrating the festive season the Dut... Read more

How To Get A Car In The Netherlands: A Guide For Expats

Moving to a new country can be stressful. There is a lot to take care of, including transportation such as a car. Mobili... Read more

Dutch Tongue Twisters To Master Your Pronunciation

Learning Dutch is challenging - especially when it comes to the pronunciation - but if you really want to put yourself ... Read more