The local government in Hong Kong has banned the city-state’s British consulate from performing same sex marriages.

Last week legislation was passed allowing same sex marriages to take place from June 27th in 23 British consulates around the world in countries where same sex marriage is prohibited.

The countries are Australia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, and Vietnam.

However, it has been confirmed by officials at the Hong Kong British consulate that the local government had banned them from performing same sex marriages, despite permission in mainland China as well as Hong Kong’s large British population.

A spokesperson for the British consulate had this to say to the South China Morning Post:

“Unfortunately, the Hong Kong government has raised an objection to the solemnisation of same-sex marriages in Hong Kong.”

Writer Nigel Collett, who plans to marry his partner in the Uk in August, made these comments: ““The Chinese government and the Russian government aren’t objecting, yet the Hong Kong government is still saying they don’t want this.

“They’re blocking every stage of the way to same-sex marriage, thinking if they give an inch it’ll come to pass in Hong Kong.”