Taiwanese woman "Maomao" who was married in the United States and Hong Kong citizen "Axue" (holding a British overseas passport BNO) were once registered as same-sex marriages at the Xinyi District Household Registration Office in Taipei City, but they were revoked and filed a lawsuit.

The Taipei High Administrative Court is scheduled to pronounce the verdict on the 29th.

(file photo)

[Central News Agency] Taiwanese woman "Maomao" who was married in the United States and Hong Kong citizen "Axue" (holding a British overseas passport BNO) was once registered as same-sex marriage at the Xinyi District Household Registration Office in Taipei City, but was revoked and filed a lawsuit.

The Taipei High Administrative Court is scheduled to pronounce the verdict on the 29th.

Taiwan Couples Rights Promotion Alliance pointed out that "Maomao" and "Axue" got married in the United States in July 2019, and successfully registered their marriage at the household registration office of Xinyi District, Taipei City on August 5 of the same year.

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Unexpectedly, when the two were going through the procedures for "Axue" to come to Taiwan as a dependent, the Immigration Department believed that although she held a British Overseas Passport (BNO), she was still a Hong Kong citizen, so she was not allowed to apply, and sent a letter to the household registration office; He believes that although "Axue" holds a BNO passport, he should be recognized as a Hong Kong resident, and cannot register same-sex marriage in Taiwan according to law, and the marriage registration will be revoked ex officio.

Dissatisfied, the two filed administrative lawsuits against the Household Registration Office and the Immigration Department respectively.

The Taipei High Administrative Court has accepted two cases one after another. Among them, the revocation of marriage registration has ended the debate a few days ago and is scheduled to be pronounced on December 29; the part of dependent residence is still under trial.

"Maomao" once stated in a transnational same-marriage case of the Partner League that she met "Axue" in a youth hostel where she worked many years ago. The two successfully proposed to each other while traveling in New York in 2017. Married in the United States on the anniversary of the proposal.

The same-sex marriage law "Judicial Yuan Shizi No. 748 Interpretation and Implementation Law" was promulgated on May 22, 2019 and came into effect on May 24 of the same year. Foreigners can register if their home country also allows same-sex marriage, but they cannot register if their home country does not allow same-sex marriage.

On January 22, 2021, the Judicial Yuan passed the draft amendment to Article 46 of the Law on the Application of Laws in Foreign-Related Civil Affairs, stipulating that as long as one party is a national of the Republic of China, same-sex marriages can be made in Taiwan. The draft is being submitted to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.