Existing laws also deprived same-sex couples of testamentary rights. Advocacy group Hong Kong Marriage Equality praised the decision and urged the government to remove barriers to same-sex marriage.
Hong Kong’s top court ruled in favor of gay couples. With this decision, gay couples have got housing and inheritance rights. The decision is an important step forward for the queer community, which has historically endured discrimination, and a major victory for those fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.
The decision follows a landmark 2023 ruling in which the same court refused to legalize gay marriage but ordered the government to develop an alternative legal framework within two years to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ couples. Had given.
This historic decision came on the petition of Nick Infinger, who fought a six-year judicial battle for his rights. The petition challenged the government’s ban on gay couples living in public housing.
There was a ban on taking flats on rent
- Infinger and his partner were denied rent on Flats Lane. The case was later taken to court along with the case of Henry Lee and her late husband Edgar Ng.
- The couple had filed a case against discriminatory policies that barred same-sex couples from acquiring property or living in subsidized housing. After the verdict Infinger said, “I hope that Hong Kong can become a more equal and fair place.
- According to him, this decision accepts the rights of gay couples to love and live together. However, he acknowledged a slightly pessimistic atmosphere in Hong Kong compared to Taiwan or Thailand.
- During the hearing, Justices Joseph Foch and Roberto Ribeiro said that the existing rules governing residence and inheritance are discriminatory and unconstitutional. He stressed that the government had failed to justify unequal treatment of same-sex couples.
Gay marriage approved in more than 30 countries including Netherlands
Globally, more than 30 countries, including the Netherlands, approved same-sex marriage in 2001 and have adopted marriage equality. However, China is not among them and there is no explicit law against discrimination of LBGTQ people.