Hong Kong’s reputation as an international financial hub faced renewed scrutiny this week after its legislature voted down a landmark same-sex partnerships bill, even as the city’s legal sector celebrated global accolades for innovation and dealmaking. The decision, rendered on September 10, 2025, comes at a time when the city is pitching itself as “Asia’s World City” and striving to attract top global talent back after years of political upheaval and pandemic-related restrictions.
For Dino Wong and his partner Geoffrey Yu, the rejection stings on a personal level. In 2019, the couple traveled more than 2,000 miles to Guam to get married, spending $5,000 on flights, accommodation, and registration fees. Their dream wedding was reduced to a brief ceremony in a government building corridor, far from loved ones and the city they call home. Back in Hong Kong, their union remains unrecognized. "I’m very disappointed that it wasn’t passed," Wong said after the legislature’s vote, adding that new rights would have been good for both his community and the city at large.
The proposed bill would have allowed same-sex couples married overseas to register their marriages in Hong Kong, granting them rights such as hospital visitation, medical decision-making, and the ability to claim a partner’s body or decide on burial arrangements. While it fell short of full marriage equality, many in Hong Kong’s LGBTQ community saw it as a crucial step forward. Yet, when it came to a vote, 71 lawmakers rejected the bill, with only 14 in favor—despite the backing of the city’s Beijing-approved leader, John Lee.
Hong Kong decriminalized homosexuality in 1991, but progress on LGBTQ rights has been slow and hard-fought. There are still no anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation, and the city’s patchwork of limited rights for same-sex couples—such as spousal visas, tax declarations, and access to public housing—have mostly been won through costly court battles, not legislative leadership. A 2019 report commissioned by the Equal Opportunities Commission identified more than 100 ways people in unconventional relationships are treated differently under Hong Kong law.
The political context is critical. Since Beijing imposed a “patriots-only” election framework in 2021, pro-democracy lawmakers—often sympathetic to LGBTQ causes—have been sidelined. The current legislature is overwhelmingly pro-Beijing, and the rejection of the bill was a rare break from its usual practice of passing government-backed legislation. The outcome, as reported by CNN, has left many advocates disheartened. Jerome Yau, co-founder of Hong Kong Marriage Equality, told CNN, "When it comes to attracting talents, I think especially for those who are LGBT and who are married, they will start questioning whether they want to move to Hong Kong. And I think that would represent a loss."
Business leaders and global organizations have echoed these concerns. The American Chamber of Commerce, in a recommendation to Hong Kong’s leader ahead of his September policy speech, urged the city to strengthen protections for the LGBTQ community and move toward "full marriage equality." Community Business, a regional non-profit advocating for inclusive workplaces, called the vote a "strategic misstep," warning that "in today’s global talent market, inclusion is a competitive advantage. Without legal recognition and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, Hong Kong risks losing its edge to regional peers, who are advancing inclusive policies, as well as its in global competition for talent."
Despite these warnings, Hong Kong’s government remains optimistic about its talent strategy. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau stated that the city "has long been a diverse, inclusive and cohesive society, and also an international hub for high-calibre talents." As of August, the government reported receiving over 520,000 applications under various talent admission schemes, with 350,000 approved. "Given our unique advantages of having the staunch support of our country and being closely connected with the world, and the promising development on all fronts, the (Hong Kong government) is fully confident that quality talents will continue to live, work and settle in Hong Kong," a spokesperson told CNN.
This confidence is not without some external validation. On September 9, the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development ranked Hong Kong fourth globally and first in Asia in its latest World Talent Ranking—up five places from the previous year. Yet, as Community Business pointed out, all three countries ahead of Hong Kong—Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Iceland—recognize same-sex marriage, and regional rivals like Taiwan are advancing inclusive policies that may draw talent away.
The legislative defeat also contravenes a 2023 top court ruling that required Hong Kong’s government to establish a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships by October 2025. The case was brought by prominent gay rights activist Jimmy Sham, who called the rejection "deeply regrettable" and warned it would become "an open wound" for the LGBTQ community. Research led by Suen Yiu-tung, associate professor of gender studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, shows public support for same-sex marriage has risen from 38% in 2013 to 60% in 2023, underscoring the disconnect between lawmakers and the public.
Lawmakers opposing the bill cited concerns about family values. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Holden Chow warned, "Our family tradition and moral values will collapse. This will spark further conflicts in Hong Kong," arguing that the bill would "open a pandora’s box." The government, for its part, said it respects the rule of law and lawmakers’ decision, but acknowledged the issue is "highly controversial" and will be studied further with the Department of Justice.
Against this divisive backdrop, Hong Kong’s legal sector notched a different kind of victory. On September 15, Tom Kollar, Managing Partner of Mayer Brown’s Hong Kong office, was named "Dealmaker of the Year" at the 2025 ALB Hong Kong Law Awards. Under Kollar’s leadership, Mayer Brown’s team has advised on some of the region’s most significant cross-border transactions, demonstrating innovation and strategic insight. The firm also received recognition in the Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyers Asia Pacific Awards 2025, highlighting its ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional legal counsel and navigating complex transactional challenges across Hong Kong and Asia.
These achievements, while a testament to Hong Kong’s professional expertise, also spotlight the city’s contradictions. The same week that saw its legal community honored for innovation and leadership also saw a legislative setback that many fear could undermine the city’s appeal to global talent and its self-styled image as a cosmopolitan, inclusive metropolis.
For Dino Wong and countless others, the fight for equality in Hong Kong is far from over. As Wong put it, "It calls itself an international financial center or an international city. It always talks about how advanced Hong Kong is, but it is not like that at all." The city’s LGBTQ community, resilient as ever, is preparing for more court battles and continued advocacy, determined to chip away at barriers one right at a time—even if, as Wong notes, "You’ll only find out (what legal protection) you need when things go wrong."