Hong Kong Court Affirms Same-Sex Couples' Rights

Hong Kong’s top court has ruled in favor of granting equal housing and inheritance rights to same-sex couples, marking a significant victory for the LGBTQ+ community in the city. The Court of Final Appeal upheld previous rulings that declared the government's discriminatory policies unconstitutional, dismissing the government's appeals. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung criticized the Housing Authority's arguments, stating that eligibility for housing should not be contingent on having children, as this policy is inconsistently applied. This decision concludes a lengthy legal battle involving cases like that of Nick Infinger and Henry Li with his late partner Edgar Ng, who challenged policies barring same-sex couples from accessing public housing and inheritance rights. The ruling reflects growing social acceptance of same-sex marriage in Hong Kong, although the city does not yet recognize such marriages for all purposes. The court had previously mandated the government to create a framework for legal recognition of same-sex partnerships.