Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have granted limited legal rights to same-sex couples who had registered their relationships or marriages overseas.

The bill aimed to provide basic rights, such as hospital visitation, following a September 2023 ruling by the city’s highest court requiring the government to establish a legal framework for same-sex couples within two years.

Despite the court’s guidance, 71 lawmakers—mostly pro-Beijing—voted against the bill, marking the first veto since the legislature was revamped in 2021 to include only pro-Beijing members.

Gay rights groups criticized the decision, saying it undermines court rulings and disregards the dignity of individuals, while Amnesty International and other organizations had called for full compliance with the court’s mandate, NBC News has reported.

Hong Kong leader John Lee reiterated that marriage in the city remains legally defined as heterosexual, and it is unclear how the government will now meet its constitutional obligation, with some groups suggesting an appeal for an extension of the deadline.