On September 10, 2025, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council delivered a sharp setback to the city’s LGBTQ+ community, voting decisively to reject a bill that would have granted limited legal recognition to certain same-sex partnerships. The Registration of Same-Sex Partnerships Bill, introduced in July after a landmark court ruling, was defeated by a lopsided margin: 71 votes against, 14 in favor, and one abstention. The outcome has left rights advocates frustrated, lawmakers divided, and the city’s government facing a looming legal deadline.
The bill’s defeat is especially striking given the political makeup of Hong Kong’s legislature. Since Beijing’s overhaul of the city’s electoral rules in 2021, the council has been stacked with pro-establishment loyalists, who have typically supported government proposals without hesitation. Yet, as The Associated Press and The New York Times report, this measure faced fierce resistance from within, making it the first government bill to be voted down since the electoral changes.
At its core, the bill sought to create a formal registry for residents who had already formed same-sex unions overseas. Those couples would have been granted narrow rights—primarily the ability to access their partner’s medical information, participate in medical decisions with consent, and claim their deceased partner’s remains. The bill did not extend to parental rights, adoption, or public welfare benefits, and was seen by many as a modest, even minimal, step forward.
Despite its limited scope, the proposal sparked heated debate. Holden Chow, vice chair of the city’s largest pro-Beijing party, warned that the bill’s passage would mean opening “a Pandora’s box” and “subverting Hong Kong’s marriage system between one man and one woman.” Lawmaker Junius Ho echoed those concerns, arguing that the measure would destabilize society for the sake of a small minority. On the other side, Regina Ip, a prominent pro-establishment figure who supported the bill, described it as a “minimum spending” requirement, given the constrained rights it offered.
Outside the Legislative Council, the debate was just as intense. According to AP, two women unfurled a banner supporting traditional marriage outside government headquarters, while LGBTQ+ groups and allies gathered in quiet protest. Performance artist Holok Chen led members of the queer community in embroidering a rainbow flag—a “gentle yet powerful form of resistance,” as Chen described it. The flag, along with others created in similar gatherings, is set to be displayed later this month in a show of unity and resilience.
For many activists, the bill’s failure was both expected and disappointing. Jimmy Sham, whose legal challenge led to the 2023 Court of Final Appeal ruling that triggered the legislation, told reporters, “I hope today marks a beginning we haven’t yet stepped into, rather than an end.” He pledged to continue working with his legal team to push for full recognition and protection of same-sex couples’ rights. Nick Infinger, another activist who won a separate court case seeking equal rights, urged supporters, “Just do not give up.”
Hong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-governmental organization advocating for fair treatment of same-sex couples, called the vote a “troubling signal” that “court rulings may be disregarded and the dignity of individuals overlooked.” The group also questioned the government’s claim that 80% of public opinion submissions opposed the bill, noting that about half of those submissions used standardized templates—a sign, they say, of orchestrated opposition.
International voices have also weighed in. Amnesty International’s researcher on gender, Nadia Rahman, described the rejection as “an alarming disdain for LGBTI rights.” She argued, “This bill would have provided the bare minimum of protection for same-sex couples—but notably, only those who registered their partnership overseas. On this and other grounds, the draft considered today falls far short of the intentions of the Court ruling that triggered it two years ago.” Rahman urged the government to urgently introduce a revised bill that “establishes a comprehensive legal framework to recognize and protect the rights of same-sex couples, in full compliance with the Court’s ruling.”
The legal backdrop to this legislative drama is significant. In September 2023, Hong Kong’s top court ruled that the government must create a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 27, 2025. The ruling, a partial victory for Jimmy Sham, did not require the legalization of same-sex marriage but insisted that the government dispel any sense that same-sex couples “belong to an inferior class of persons whose relationship is undeserving of recognition.” Since then, Hong Kong courts have granted incremental rights to same-sex couples who married abroad, including spousal visas, tax benefits, access to public housing, and inheritance rights. However, a comprehensive legal framework remains elusive.
Public attitudes, meanwhile, appear to be shifting. Surveys conducted in 2023 by researchers from three universities found that 60% of Hong Kong residents supported same-sex marriage, up dramatically from 38% a decade earlier. As Denise Tang, head of cultural studies at Lingnan University, told The New York Times, “If you’re trying to attract people from different parts of the world—this is part of what you have to deal with, because people have families and partners.” She argued that the bill’s defeat runs counter to the city’s cosmopolitan image and public sentiment.
Hong Kong’s government now finds itself in a bind. The city’s leader, John Lee, had encouraged lawmakers to pass the bill, citing the rule of law as a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success. Yet after the vote, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Erick Tsang said the administration would respect the legislature’s decision and would not seek an extension to the court-imposed deadline. Tsang indicated that his team would consult further with the Department of Justice on how to proceed.
The stakes are high for the city’s reputation as an international financial hub and for the rule of law itself. The vote comes at a time when other Asian jurisdictions, including Taiwan, Nepal, and Thailand, have moved to legalize or recognize same-sex marriage, leaving Hong Kong increasingly isolated on the issue. Supporters argue that failing to act could undermine the city’s ability to attract global talent and investment.
Yet, for many in Hong Kong’s LGBTQ+ community, the fight is far from over. As rainbow flags are stitched and displayed, and as legal teams regroup for the next battle, there is a sense that the struggle for equality has entered a new phase—one defined by resilience, hope, and a determination not to be silenced. The deadline set by the top court looms ever closer, and the question now is whether the city’s leaders will find a way to reconcile the demands of the law, public opinion, and the rights of all its citizens.
With the legislature’s rejection of even a modest proposal, Hong Kong’s road to equal rights for same-sex couples remains uncertain—but the voices calling for change are only growing louder.
