Lesbian wins her Hong Kong fight

A BRITISH woman has won the right to live and work in Hong Kong with her female partner in a landmark decision by the top court in the city, where samesex unions are not recognised.

‘QT’ entered into a civil partnership in Britain in 2011 and moved to Hong Kong with her partner the same year.

She was denied a dependant visa after her partner got a job in the city and was forced to stay on as a visitor.

QT won her case on appeal last year but it was taken to Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal after its government challenged. With Goldman Sachs backing her, the court later ruled it was ‘counter-productive’ to only extend dependant work rights to straight couples.

‘I was stunned,’ QT said. ‘I was like wow, have we actually got there, finally?’

‘And then I was tearful with joy. . . This is all I wanted for seven years.’