BLACK mobile logo

international

Hong Kong’s Legislative Council votes down same-sex partnership bill

September 11, 2025

Hong Kong's Legislative Council has rejected the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill with only 14 lawmakers supporting it while 71 voted against it and one abstained. This marks the first time the opposition-free legislature has voted down a government bill, which aimed to provide limited rights to same-sex couples with marriages or civil unions registered overseas. The bill was introduced in response to a 2023 Court of Final Appeal ruling requiring the government to establish a framework for recognizing same-sex relationships by October 27, 2025.

Who is affected

  • LGBTQ+ individuals and same-sex couples in Hong Kong
  • Jimmy Sham and other LGBTQ+ activists who advocated for the bill
  • Same-sex couples with marriages or civil unions registered overseas
  • Same-sex partners who face practical difficulties in medical decision-making and hospital visitation
  • The broader Hong Kong society where 60% reportedly support equal marriage

What action is being taken

  • The Hong Kong Legislative Council is actively debating and voting on the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill
  • Lawmakers are publicly expressing their positions on the bill during council sessions
  • Some political parties like the New People's Party are directing their members to vote in favor of the bill
  • LGBTQ+ activists including Jimmy Sham are monitoring the legislative proceedings
  • The government is responding to the Court of Final Appeal's 2023 ruling requiring a framework for same-sex partnerships

Why it matters

  • This is the first time Hong Kong's opposition-free legislature has voted down a government bill, demonstrating legislative independence
  • The bill's failure may create tensions with the Court of Final Appeal's 2023 ruling that mandated recognition of same-sex relationships
  • The vote highlights deep societal divisions over LGBTQ+ rights in Hong Kong
  • Same-sex couples continue to face practical difficulties in everyday situations like hospital visitations and medical decision-making
  • The outcome reflects ongoing debates about traditional values versus recognition of diverse family structures in Hong Kong society

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices