What Was the Bill
In July 2025, the Hong Kong government introduced the Registration of Same-Sex Partnerships Bill to address a 2023 Court of Final Appeal ruling (the Sham Tsz Kit v Secretary for Justice decision) that ordered the government to create an alternative legal framework recognising same-sex relationships.
Under the proposed legislation, only couples who had already formalised their partnership abroad (through marriage, civil union, or equivalent) and had at least one partner residing in Hong Kong would be eligible for limited legal recognition locally. The rights were modest: medical visitation, taking part in medical decisions (with consent), accessing medical information, handling a partner’s remains after death, and other related matters. The bill expressly did not legalise same-sex marriage or civil unions created within Hong Kong itself.
The Vote and Legislative Landscape
On 10 September 2025, the Legislative Council (LegCo) voted on the bill. The outcome was overwhelmingly negative: 71 votes against, 14 in favour, and 1 abstention. This made it the first government bill to be defeated since the 2021 overhaul of the legislature.
The legislature is dominated by pro-Beijing and conservative members who have generally opposed expansions of LGBTQ rights that they believe clamorously challenge traditional definitions of marriage and family. Many religious groups also voiced opposition.
Court Ruling that Prompted the Bill
The impetus for the government’s legislation was the Sham Tsz Kit v Secretary for Justice ruling from September 2023. The Court of Final Appeal decided by a 3-2 majority that while same-sex marriage is not a constitutional right in Hong Kong, the absence of any legal recognition for same-sex partnerships violated rights of privacy under Article 14 of the Bill of Rights. The court gave the government two years to establish a legal framework for recognising same-sex partnerships.
Reactions from Supporters and Opponents
Supporters—LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, legal activists, and some members of the public—described the bill as modest but important. They argued that even limited legal protections would help alleviate injustices and legal uncertainty faced by same-sex couples, especially regarding medical access and inheritance.
Opponents, however, contended that the proposal undermined traditional values of marriage between a man and a woman. Some lawmakers claimed that recognizing overseas same-sex unions, even to a limited degree, threatens those values. Others suggested that the bill did not reflect the views of a sufficient portion of the population or lacked adequate consultation.
Significance & Implications
- This veto represents a setback for LGBTQ+ rights in Hong Kong, particularly because it fails to implement even minimal recognition for same-sex couples as required by the 2023 court ruling.
- It raises questions about how the government will now comply with the court’s mandate given the deadline imposed by the ruling.
- Public opinion polls have shown increasing support for same-sex marriage or partnerships in recent years, which suggests a potential disjunction between legislative action and social attitudes.
