Time for Hong Kong to officially recognise gay marriages, for the greater good of society

It is not just about rights and benefits, but also about legal limits and obligations. For example, financial disclosure laws and conflict of interest legislation cover only opposite-sex spouses but not gay partners, and this is not in the public interest

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It is all about the legal ties that do not bind for Hong Kong’s same-sex couples. Photo: Reuters

Will Yip

Will Yip is the principal editor of the report and an in-house lawyer for a financial institution in Hong Kong.

Published: 3:00pm, 28 Jun 2019Updated: 7:22pm, 28 Jun 2019

There have been several court cases over the past few years — all eventually lost by the government in the Court of Final Appeal — that have shed light on the extent to which the administration denies rights and benefits to couples who are not married or, at least, not married in the eyes of the government.

Thanks to a British citizen known in court as QT, couples in civil partnerships and same-sex spouses can now obtain dependent visas for each other. More recently, Angus Leung Chun-kwong’s courage has ensured greater equality when it comes to taxation and medical and dental benefits for civil servants’ same-sex spouses.

There are more cases working their way through the courts. Nick Infinger wants to be able to live with his husband in public housing. Mk wants to legally formalise her relationship with her girlfriend without having to leave Hong Kong.