Hong Kong Court Grants Housing and Inheritance Rights to Same-Sex Couples

The Court of Final Appeal unanimously ruled against discriminatory policies, marking a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights in the city.

The Court of Final Appeal upheld rulings affirming equal housing and inheritance rights for same-sex couples, dismissing government appeals.
The court declared Hong Kong's housing and inheritance policies discriminatory and unconstitutional, citing a lack of justification for excluding same-sex couples.
This landmark decision concludes years of legal battles initiated by activists like Nick Infinger and Henry Li, whose late husband Edgar Ng was a key figure in the fight for equality.
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung criticized government arguments that housing policies should prioritize procreation, noting they failed to account for childless heterosexual couples or same-sex couples who may adopt or use artificial means.
While Hong Kong does not yet recognize same-sex marriage broadly, activists hope this ruling will accelerate progress toward full marriage equality in the city.