hong kong hong kong appeal court monday rule british lesbian whose partner work city grant spousal visa landmark decision could lead expatriate same-sex partner move chinese-ruled financial hub british national know qt refuse dependant visa ground spouse even though enter civil partnership england marriage hong kong define monogamous union man woman discrimination base sexual orientation law former british colony return chinese rule wide-ranging autonomy include free judiciary 1997. unanimous decision reach three judge court appeal find director immigration fail justify indirect discrimination account sexual orientation qt suffer legal definition marriage challenge appeal chief judge andrew cheung write time change increase number people long prepare accept status quo without critical think exclude foreign worker lawfully marry albeit same-sex spouse civil partner ... join worker quite obviously counter-productive attract worker come remain hong kong work first place add court order qt department immigration work together agreement submit court within 28 days hong kong lgbt advocate welcome decision city first openly gay lawmaker ray chan call big win same-sex dependants apply visa stay hong kong same-sex marriage legalize taiwan may first asia mainland china homosexuality list mental disorder 2001 illegal gay british lesbian win right spousal visa landmark hong kong case