Hong Kong: Court of Appeal upholds gay activist’s right to dance at pride event
A gay activist’s right to dance at a pride event, which took place in 2011, was upheld by a Hong Kong court through the rejection of a police appeal.
The Court of Appeal ruled that the activist and more than 100 other participants did have a right to the freedom of expression, in the form of dancing, at the event.
In the appeal proceedings, the police argued that the participants did not have a right to dance at the event.
They stated that this was because the organisers of the event had not secured a licence for a dance performance under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance Act 1997.
Prior to the event, participants were already given the right to demonstrate.
The Court of Appeal rejected the argument of the police and ruled that a dance performance did not require the use of the act.
It was stated that an application for a licence was needed only if you were in charge of audience admission.
This month, researchers from the University of Hong Kong revealed that three out of four locals support more rights for gay people in the region, although only 27% completely agreed that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
