Hong Kong LGBTQ event canceled after venue denied 'without explanation'

People from different generations have fun at gay pride parade with banner. [AFP]

One of Hong Kong's largest events to celebrate diversity and promote LGBTQ rights will not take place this year because it was denied a venue "without explanation", organisers said on Thursday.

Held annually since 2014, Pink Dot Hong Kong features a mix of music performances, art and workshops and drew nearly 7,000 participants to the lawn of Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District last year.

Organisers said they engaged the same venue "early in the year" to rent it again for October 12, but were recently "notified by West Kowloon that the venue could not be rented to us, without any explanation provided".

The event was cancelled as organisers could not secure an alternate location in time.

The West Kowloon Cultural District is run by a statutory body whose members are appointed by the government.

The body told AFP it "reviews venue hire applications in accordance with established procedures" and does not comment on individual cases.

Hong Kong's LGBTQ community has grabbed the spotlight in recent weeks as the legislature vets a government plan to expand rights for some same-sex couples -- a move that the top court said must be completed by late October.

The government proposed a bill that would recognise same-sex couples whose unions were registered abroad, and grant them limited rights related to medical-related matters and after-death arrangements.

The bill is expected to be debated and voted on by the 89-strong legislature after lawmakers return in September after recess.