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The
ruling by Hong Kong's Court of Appeal is another small legal
victory for campaigners for LGBT rights in the global financial
hub this year, a trend that activists say could prompt other
jurisdictions in Asia, like Singapore and Japan, to examine
their positions on inclusion.
Hong Kong law does not allow same-sex marriage so some couples
get married in places abroad where it is legal.
Tuesday's ruling came in response to a city government appeal in
December against a 2020 court decision that same-sex married
couples should enjoy equal rights under the city's inheritance
laws.
Judges Peter Cheung, Maria Yuen and Thomas Au said in a written
judgment that the city's secretary of justice, who led the
government appeal, "failed in all grounds of appeal".
"There's no reason why foreign same-sex marriages cannot be
similarly admitted as a matter of principle of equality of
treatment," the judges wrote.
Some activists welcomed the decision but called for more
comprehensive reform.
"We have been saying the best option for the government is to
implement a comprehensive system to recognise same-sex
partnership," said Jerome Yau, from the group Hong Kong Marriage
Equality.
"It is our view that the same-sex marriage is the only proven
and permanent solution for Hong Kong," Yau told reporters.
Hong Kong's top court in September ruled against same-sex
marriage but gave the government two years to form a legal
framework for recognising unions between same-sex couples.
Last week, Hong Kong's Court of Appeal also dismissed a
government bid to deny same-sex married couples the right to
rent and own public housing last week, saying that it was
"discriminatory in nature" and a complete denial of such
couples' rights.
(Reporting by Jessie Pang; Editing by James Pomfret, Robert
Birsel)
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