Hong Kong Legislature Rejects Bill to Legally Recognize Overseas Same-Sex Partnerships
Limited rights for same-sex couples married or registered abroad denied in 71-14 vote despite 2023 court mandate
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council voted down a government-proposed bill on September ten, 2025 that would have created a legal framework recognising certain overseas same-sex partnerships.
The Registration of Same-Sex Partnerships Bill was rejected by 71 legislators, with only 14 in favour and one abstention.
The defeat represents a setback for advocates seeking even partial legal recognition for LGBTQ couples.
The bill was introduced in response to a ruling by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023 (Sham Tsz Kit v Secretary for Justice), which found that the government’s failure to establish a legal framework for same-sex relationships violated the right to privacy under Hong Kong law.
The court gave the government until October 27, 2025 to comply.
Under the bill, couples who had valid marriages or civil unions registered overseas would have been able to register their partnerships locally, granting them limited rights in areas such as hospital visitation, medical decision-making, shared medical information, claiming remains, and post-death arrangements.
It did not legalise same-sex marriage within Hong Kong.
Opponents in the legislature, most of whom are aligned with pro-Beijing or socially conservative groups, argued the bill would erode traditional family values.
In the debate preceding the vote, several legislators warned the bill would “rock the foundation” of the heteronormative family structure and harm social cohesion.
Supporters of the bill, including LGBTQ rights activists and some legal scholars, saw it as a modest but necessary step to fulfil the court’s mandate and protect the rights of same-sex couples, especially those married overseas.
They warned that rejecting the bill risks both legal and reputational damage, especially given rising public support—recent polls indicate support for same-sex marriage has reached around sixty per cent.
In response to the rejection, the government expressed disappointment but said it will respect the decision of the legislature and consult further with the Department of Justice.
It also confirmed it would not seek to extend the October deadline set by the Court of Final Appeal, meaning that it must find another way to satisfy the court ruling within that timeframe.
The vote marked the first government bill to be turned down since major electoral reforms in 2021 installed a legislature dominated by pro-Beijing politicians.
Many rights groups and observers regard the outcome as a litmus test for how legal rights, minority protections and public opinion interact under Hong Kong’s current political framework.
The Registration of Same-Sex Partnerships Bill was rejected by 71 legislators, with only 14 in favour and one abstention.
The defeat represents a setback for advocates seeking even partial legal recognition for LGBTQ couples.
The bill was introduced in response to a ruling by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023 (Sham Tsz Kit v Secretary for Justice), which found that the government’s failure to establish a legal framework for same-sex relationships violated the right to privacy under Hong Kong law.
The court gave the government until October 27, 2025 to comply.
Under the bill, couples who had valid marriages or civil unions registered overseas would have been able to register their partnerships locally, granting them limited rights in areas such as hospital visitation, medical decision-making, shared medical information, claiming remains, and post-death arrangements.
It did not legalise same-sex marriage within Hong Kong.
Opponents in the legislature, most of whom are aligned with pro-Beijing or socially conservative groups, argued the bill would erode traditional family values.
In the debate preceding the vote, several legislators warned the bill would “rock the foundation” of the heteronormative family structure and harm social cohesion.
Supporters of the bill, including LGBTQ rights activists and some legal scholars, saw it as a modest but necessary step to fulfil the court’s mandate and protect the rights of same-sex couples, especially those married overseas.
They warned that rejecting the bill risks both legal and reputational damage, especially given rising public support—recent polls indicate support for same-sex marriage has reached around sixty per cent.
In response to the rejection, the government expressed disappointment but said it will respect the decision of the legislature and consult further with the Department of Justice.
It also confirmed it would not seek to extend the October deadline set by the Court of Final Appeal, meaning that it must find another way to satisfy the court ruling within that timeframe.
The vote marked the first government bill to be turned down since major electoral reforms in 2021 installed a legislature dominated by pro-Beijing politicians.
Many rights groups and observers regard the outcome as a litmus test for how legal rights, minority protections and public opinion interact under Hong Kong’s current political framework.
