Hong Kong’s legislature on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected a government bill that would have granted limited legal recognition to some same-sex couples, marking a setback for LGBTQ rights in the city and forcing officials to rethink how to comply with a 2023 court order.
Seventy-one of the Legislative Council’s 89 members voted against the proposal, which would have created a registration system for couples married or in civil unions overseas and conferred a small set of rights, including hospital visitation and authority to make medical decisions for a partner. The measure was put forward by the government to meet a directive from the Court of Final Appeal that it devise an alternative framework after the court declined to legalise same-sex marriage last year.
Chief Executive John Lee had urged passage of the bill, saying its rejection would undermine the rule of law and bring “serious consequences.” But the proposal drew criticism from both advocates and opponents. LGBTQ activists said the scheme did not go far enough to create a meaningful alternative to marriage, while conservative lawmakers argued it threatened traditional family values and could open the door to legalising same-sex marriage.
Amnesty International said the vote showed an “alarming disdain” for LGBTQ rights and called on authorities to introduce a new, revised bill. Prominent activist Jimmy Sham, whose long-running legal challenge helped produce the court ruling, described the outcome as "deeply regrettable," saying the government’s failure to secure recognition for same-sex couples would remain an "open wound." Sham and his husband were married in New York in 2013; his case to have their union recognised prompted the legal proceedings that culminated in last year’s court decision.
In 2023 the Court of Final Appeal rejected a claim to legalise same-sex marriage but ordered the government to formulate an alternative framework within two years, saying the absence of legal recognition for same-sex couples could “disrupt and demean” their private lives in ways that amounted to arbitrary interference. The government framed this year’s bill as an attempt to fulfil that obligation; Wednesday’s rejection means officials must return to the drawing board with little time before the court-imposed deadline on Oct. 27.
The vote also highlighted an uncommon divide between the government and the legislature. Since Beijing tightened its control over the territory and reshaped Hong Kong’s political institutions, the city’s executive and elected bodies have largely acted in lockstep. Many members of the Legislative Council are widely considered pro-Beijing following a 2021 law that restricts candidacy to those deemed “patriots.” The chief executive is selected through a committee strongly aligned with mainland authorities.
Public opinion in Hong Kong has shifted in recent years. A 2023 survey found about 60% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, up from 38% a decade earlier. The territory also hosted the Gay Games in 2023, the first time the multi-sport event was held in Asia. Activists estimate roughly 6% of Hong Kong’s adult population identify as LGBTQ.
With the bill defeated, the government faces legal and political choices. It must produce a new proposal that addresses the court’s ruling while attempting to win enough support in a legislature where social conservatives and pro-establishment figures remain influential. How officials proceed will affect ongoing litigation and the everyday rights of same-sex couples in Hong Kong, as well as broader debates about civil liberties in the city.