GAY British couples have been refused the right to tie the knot in same-sex civil unions in Hong Kong after the government turned down a U.K. proposal to offer the service.

Had it been successful, homosexuals among the 3.5 million British National (Overseas) Passport holders and thousands of full British citizens could have sealed a civil union at the British consulate in Admiralty Center, Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post said yesterday (Apr 16).

Under Britain's Civil Partnership Act, signed into law in December, British nationals are entitled to register for a civil union in British consulates and embassies around the world, pending a signal of "no objection" by the host country. It is understood Hong Kong government officials refused permission because it could have been interpreted as a move away from Hong Kong's neutral stance on gay marriage.

A consular spokeswoman said Britain had hoped to offer the service to bestow the same legal rights for same-sex unions as for married couples under British law, covering areas such as pensions and inheritance tax.

The service is already being offered in 14 countries, among them the United States, Japan and Vietnam.

British national Nigel Huckstep, 51, and his partner, Yan Kin-wa, 37, a BN (O) Passport holder, may travel to the U.K. or Vietnam to formalize their relationship. But they said they were not surprised, nor disappointed. "The Chinese are generally conservative on such issues," Yan said.

Editor: Wing