On July 2nd, 2025, the Hong Kong government introduced an official proposal to create a registration system for same‑sex couples who have formalised their relationship overseas. According to the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the system would be open only to adult same-sex couples who are either married or in a legally recognised civil union abroad, and at least one partner must be a Hong Kong resident.
When registered under the new framework, couples would gain essential rights that are currently unavailable domestically. Some of these rights include the right to visit each other in the hospital, access medical information, consent to organ donation, and make decisions if one partner becomes mentally incapacitated. Moreover, they would also have the legal authority to manage a partner’s affairs after death, such as claiming the body and arranging funeral matters.
This move follows a landmark decision by Hong Kong’s top court in September 2023, wherein the Court of Final Appeal ruled in Sham Tsz Kit v Secretary for Justice that while same‑sex marriage is not a constitutional right, the government must within two years create an alternative legal framework to safeguard fundamental rights for same‑sex couples.
Even after the proposal was announced, it has faced criticism. LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham, who led the original legal challenge, remarked that requiring couples to register abroad places unfair financial and practical burdens on local same‑sex couples. He pointed out that heterosexual couples can register their marriages here without such restrictions. Jerome Yau, a leader of Hong Kong Marriage Equality, described the plan as “very conservative” and “far from acceptable” because it excludes many couples who have not married abroad.
On the other hand, pro‑Beijing lawmakers have argued that this system will not amount to legalising same‑sex marriage. They have emphasised respect for traditional family values and insisted further public consultation is needed.
The HK government intends to introduce the bill in the Legislative Council later this week. However, the debate is expected to be intense as Hong Kong balances court‑ordered reforms, growing public support and deep-seated conservatism.