The leader of Hong Kong has announced his support for a new bill that would, for the first time, grant limited legal recognition to same-sex couples in the Chinese Special Administrative Region.
Chief executive John Lee confirmed that his administration drafted the legislation in response to a 2023 ruling by the Court of Final Appeal, which ordered the government to establish an “alternative framework” recognising same-sex relationships, while upholding the territory’s legal definition of marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.
In its landmark decision, the court declared that people in same-sex relationships have “core rights” derived from their partnerships and gave the government a two-year deadline to act.
“We Must Not Violate the Court’s Ruling”
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lee reaffirmed his government’s opposition to same-sex marriage but stressed the importance of complying with the judiciary’s directive.
“The government must not act in violation of the Court of Final Appeal’s judgment,” he said, according to AFP.
“Otherwise, it will be against the rule of law… Violating the rule of law will mean serious consequences.”
The proposed bill offers limited protections, including rights related to medical decisions and post-death arrangements. It also introduces a registration mechanism allowing qualifying same-sex couples to formally register their relationships with Hong Kong authorities.
To be eligible, at least one partner must be a Hong Kong resident, and the couple must already be married, in a civil union, or in a registered civil partnership from an overseas jurisdiction that legally recognises same-sex relationships.
“Better Than Nothing” – But Still Inadequate
LGBTQIA+ rights group Hong Kong Marriage Equality responded to the announcement with cautious optimism, describing the bill as an incomplete step toward equality.
“Any protection is better than none,” the group said in a statement to The Guardian. “But the proposal, as it stands, falls well short of providing the full and equal recognition that all couples and families deserve.”
Same-sex couples in Mainland China still receive no legal recognition, and public discussion of LGBTQIA+ issues remains tightly censored. In contrast, Taiwan became the first jurisdiction in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019, and since 2023, has allowed same-sex couples to jointly adopt children.
While Hong Kong’s bill does not go nearly as far, it signals a legal shift that may pave the way for broader rights in the future — if activists and the judiciary can continue to exert pressure.
