Hong Kong to introduce same-sex partnerships bill
People marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in Hong Kong in 2019. (Getty)
People marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in Hong Kong in 2019. (Getty)
Hong Kong is set to introduce a bill that will recognise same-sex partnerships, in what would mark a major step forward for LGBTQ+ people in the special administrative region of China.
In 2023, Hong Kong’s top court ordered the government to legally recognise same-sex relationships and gave them two years to enact legislation. However, an appeal with regard to bringing forward full marriage equality and recognition of same-sex marriages performed abroad was unanimously dismissed.
While the government has shown little appetite for championing LGBTQ+ rights, homosexuality was decriminalised in 1991, and legal challenges have pushed the authorities to make improvements in terms of rights for LGBTQ+ people in general.
Now, the South China Morning Post reports that a bill will be introduced on Wednesday (16 July) to the legislature to recognise same-sex partnerships.
Last year, Hong Kong’s highest court ruled in favour of Henry Tse and another trans activist, identified only as Q, meaning transgender men and women no longer have to undergo full gender-affirmation surgery before being allowed to change gender markers on their IDs.
The revised requirements state that trans men must undergo top surgery while transgender women must have bottom surgery. They have to undergo hormone replacement therapy for at least two years before being able to apply for a change to their ID card.
Quarks, an organisation for trans youngsters, and the Hong Kong Trans Law Database said in a joint statement that they were “extremely disappointed” by the new policy, adding: “[It] continues to violate transgender people’s right to privacy and bodily integrity.”
Tse previously told PinkNews that he felt “outed” as trans every time he presented his ID card, which has not been changed to reflect his male gender.
“In Hong Kong, the simplest thing like using the bathroom in a public space, it’s impossible because it’s illegal for me,” he said. “It’s illegal for me to use the male bathroom and it’s illegal for me to use the female bathroom because of how I look.”
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