Advertising Ban

A Cathay Pacific advert featuring two men holding hands can now be displayed across Hong Kong's transport network,

after its reported ban sparked a public outcry.

the city's airport and MTR train operator had barred the friendly ad from its crowded terminals.

The news emerged
just after Taiwan's parliament legalised same-marriage last week in a landmark first for Asia, placing the island at the vanguard of the region's burgeoning gay rights movement.
By contrast, campaigners have criticised semi-autonomous Hong Kong for lagging behind on equality issues. 
Neither Cathay Pacific nor the transport authorities directly confirmed or denied the ban
which triggered a massive backlash.
The group launched a campaign on Monday
 encouraging Hong Kongers to share on social media photos of themselves holding hands with their partners or friends at the airport or the MTR.
As public pressure mounted, airport authorities said the advert now had their full blessing.
The ad is deemed "not in infringement of the Airport Authority's established guidelines on advertisements displayed in the terminal",
.
"We have advised... that the design can be posted at MTR stations,".

Ray Chan is  Hong Kong's first openly lawmaker,
He welcomed the move saying public and media pressure have made transport officials and their advertising agencies "right their wrong".
The city airport is operated by a Hong Kong government body,
while the MTR Corporation is majority-owned by the government.
Hong Kong does not recognise same- marriage or civil unions
and only decriminalised it in 1991.
But a British les won the right to live and work in Hong Kong with her partner
in a landmark ruling last year hailed by rights groups.
A separate case has been lodged by two Hong Kong men directly challenging the same- marriage ban as unconstitutional.