The High Court of Hong Kong rejected a transsexual's appeal to marry her boyfriend on Tuesday, noting existing laws only allow marriage between couples who were of the opposite sex at birth.

The woman and her boyfriend filed for marriage last year but was rejected by the city's Registrar of Marriages, who then appealed to the High Court.

High Court Judge Andrew Cheung was quoted as saying in his rulings Tuesday that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate a shifted societal consensus in present-day Hong Kong regarding marriage to encompass a post-operative transsexual.

The judge acknowledged the discrimination transsexual people face, but pointed out that this alone was not enough to bring about a fundamental change in the law. He urged the government to launch consultations on similar gender issues.

The lawyer of the transsexual said she would continue to appeal for her rights as a woman.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments