But he added, ahead of the Executive Council meeting, that authorities would respect the final decision of the legislature on whether to approve or reject the bill on the legal framework.
The administration has proposed that same-sex couples be allowed to register under a mechanism to recognise their unions in response to the decision of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA), which has been met with strong opposition from lawmakers.
“The CFA’s ruling has the force of law, and it’s legally binding on the government,” Lee said.
“The government must not act in violation of the court’s ruling. Otherwise, it’ll be against the rule of law.
“The rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s economy, investor confidence and its long-established success. Violating the rule of law will mean serious consequences.”
A lawful union in Hong Kong is between a man and woman, Lee said, adding that the court’s ruling affirmed that the right to marriage protected under the Basic Law is limited to heterosexual marriages.
Lee also noted that the Legislative Council is responsible for scrutinising, amending and voting to pass or reject bills introduced by the authorities.
“The government will make every effort to facilitate Legco’s scrutiny of the bill introduced by [the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau], assist Legco in completing the scrutiny expeditiously, and respect Legco’s final decision,” he said.
