Opinion | Hong Kong cannot afford to ignore civil rights of same-sex couples

Name: Hong Kong’s top court orders government to create legal framework for same-sex partnerships
Uploaded: 2025-08-22T01:30:08.000Z
Duration: 3 min 54 s
Description: Hong Kong’s top court orders government to create legal framework for same-sex partnerships

The government’s bill merely addresses the basic practical needs of same-sex couples. Opposition will harm the city’s economy and reputation

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Supporters of the same-sex partnership registration bill, wearing masks of monsters to protest against the demonisation and exclusion of same-sex couples, demonstrate outside the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry, in Admiralty, Hong Kong, on July 28. Photo: Dickson Lee

Bernard Chan

Published: 9:30am, 22 Aug 2025

The Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill, currently before Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, has become a key point in debates about the city’s traditional values and international reputation. Indications suggest it is likely to be rejected: many lawmakers have dismissed the bill as impractical or warned it could set a precedent for advancing same-sex marriage, with only a minority expressing support.

Rejecting the bill, however, has serious consequences. It risks portraying Hong Kong as a place unwilling to embrace diversity, undermining the city’s aims of fostering cross-cultural exchange and attracting global talent. This could harm Hong Kong’s reputation as a modern, inclusive hub for international business and innovation.

For a city determined to stay competitive, such perceptions can carry significant consequences. Maintaining a strong global reputation is essential, particularly when vying with dynamic neighbouring economies and seeking to preserve our status as a leading international hub.

The Court of Final Appeal has determined that the government must establish a legal framework to enable same-sex couples to handle essential civil matters. Although the proposed bill has a limited scope, it is essential to fulfil the court’s mandate. It applies only to couples who have formalised relationships overseas, where at least one individual is a Hong Kong resident.

The bill provides fundamental protections, allowing registered partners to make medical decisions, access records and consent to organ donation. It also guarantees hospital visitation rights and authority over posthumous matters like funeral arrangements and cremation. It excludes broader marital rights, such as joint adoption, tax benefits or access to public housing.

These are not radical demands but essential safeguards that address real, everyday needs. Overlooking them diminishes the dignity of same-sex couples and ignores society’s evolving expectations.

03:54

Hong Kong’s top court orders government to create legal framework for same-sex partnerships

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x