Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
News
Gay couple in Hong Kong wins landmark ruling in spousal benefits case

In a landmark ruling, a Hong Kong court said that a married gay couple should have the same civil and tax benefits as their married heterosexual counterparts.

The court sided with senior immigration officer Leung Chun-kwong and his partner Scott Adams, who argued that they should receive the same spousal work benefits as heterosexual colleagues, the South China Morning Post reported today.

Justice Anderson Chow Ka-ming said that denying the couple spousal benefits amounted to "indirect discrimination".

The city has anti-discrimination laws on gender, family status, disability and race, but not sexual orientation.

The Hong Kong government has long been accused of dragging its feet on recognising marriages and civil unions.

This case could set a precedent for several other cases that are currently in progress.

One such case is that of a British woman challenging the Hong Kong government for the right to be granted a spousal visa. The initial case was dismissed by the court and is now on appeal.

- dpa

ADS