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Public opinion in Hong Kong appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.

Support for legislation to protect sexual minorities from discrimination

of people aged 18 to 24 support legislation to protect sexual minorities from discrimination
of religious people support legislation to protect sexual minorities from discrimination

Contact with homosexuals

4.8%
Yes, frequent
17.2%
Yes, not frequent
76.5%
No

Work ability is not directly related to homosexuality

35.2%
Strongly agree
53.6%
Agree
1.5%
Stand neutral
6.8%
Disagree
1.7%
Strongly disagree

Promiscuity is not directly related to homosexuality

14.4%
Strongly agree
46.7%
Agree
3.6%
Stand neutral
22.5%
Disagree
6.9%
Strongly disagree

Homosexuals are psychologically normal people

8.5%
Strongly agree
38.5%
Agree
5.5%
Stand neutral
29.9%
Disagree
12%
Strongly disagree

There is no conflict between homosexuality and family values

6.7%
Strongly agree
34.5%
Agree
4.3%
Stand neutral
35.1%
Disagree
14%
Strongly disagree

Homosexuality contradicts the morals of the community

9.5%
Strongly disagree
39.5%
Disagree
6.4%
Stand neutral
27.2%
Agree
11.7%
Strongly agree

Acceptance of homosexuals as colleagues

14.9%
Strongly acceptable
65%
Acceptable
11.1%
Neutral
4.6%
Unacceptable
2.3%
Strongly unacceptable

Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbours

12.8%
Strongly acceptable
65.2%
Acceptable
12.8%
Neutral
6.4%
Unacceptable
1.8%
Strongly unacceptable

Acceptance of homosexuals as superiors in office

11.6%
Strongly acceptable
65.9%
Acceptable
10.3%
Neutral
6.4%
Unacceptable
2.2%
Strongly unacceptable

Acceptance of homosexuals as friends

13.2%
Strongly acceptable
62.9%
Acceptable
8.7%
Neutral
9.6%
Unacceptable
4.1%
Strongly unacceptable

Acceptance of homosexuals as teachers

8.2%
Strongly acceptable
52%
Acceptable
8.9%
Neutral
18.3%
Unacceptable
10%
Strongly unacceptable

Acceptance of homosexuals as family members

5.7%
Strongly acceptable
34.3%
Acceptable
5%
Neutral
26.7%
Unacceptable
24.7%
Strongly unacceptable

How serious is the following problem for you: A landlord refuses to let his/her flat to a homosexual

2.8%
Very serious
12.6%
Serious
32.8%
Average
13.4%
Pose little problem
25.9%
No problem at all

The community should ensure equal opportunities for homosexuals

9.9%
Strongly agree
44.3%
Agree
34.1%
Stand neutral
7.4%
Disagree
2.8%
Strongly disagree

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History

Homosexual activity in Hong Kong

?

Homosexual activity in Hong Kong is legal.

Current status
Since Jul 1991
Legal
Homosexuality was legalised in 1991 after Hong Kong repealed its sodomy laws. However, the age of consent was set at 21, higher than that for heterosexual relations.
Sources:
Carole J. Petersen, Values in Transition: The Development of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement in Hong Kong, 19 Loy. L.A. Int'l &
Comp. L. Rev. 337 (1997).
Available at: digitalcommons.lmu.edu/ilr/…
www.humandignitytrust.org/l…
www.hkreform.gov.hk/en/publ…
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Jun 14, 1865–Jul 1991
Male illegal, female legal
In 1865, the Offences Against the Ordinance Act was implemented in Hong Kong which criminalised buggery with an imprisonment for up to 10 years. Lesbianism was not criminalised.

Same-sex marriage in Hong Kong

?

Same-sex marriage in Hong Kong is civil unions (marriage rights).

Current status
Since Sep 5, 2023
Civil unions (marriage rights)
Hong Kong’s highest court ruled on 5 September in favour of same-sex civil unions but did not grant them the right to marry.

The Final Court of Appeal ruled that the government is "violating its obligation (...) to legally recognize same-sex couples", according to the ruling, which nevertheless rejects "unanimously the appeal" regarding the recognition of their marriage.

This ruling was eagerly awaited by the LGBT+ community of the former British colony which, for a decade, has won important victories before the courts, including the annulment of discriminatory government policies on visas, taxes and housing subsidies.
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2017–Sep 5, 2023
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Same sex marriage registered outside of Hong Kong is recognized for immigration purposes.
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Until 2017
Unrecognized
Same-sex marriage was not recognized until 2017.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Hong Kong

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Hong Kong is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Hong Kong, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
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Right to change legal gender in Hong Kong

?

Right to change legal gender in Hong Kong is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since Apr 3, 2024
Legal, but requires surgery
The government has announced the new policy of changing sex marker on HKID card, citing that surgery is still required in general. Applicant who have not undergoing full SRS surgery required to remove the penis and testes (for MTF) or completed bilateral mastectomy (for FTM), and required to provide medical diagonsis as long as hormonal treatment of the opposite sex throughout the period of at least two years continuously. Applicant will be required to undergo continuous hormonal treatment of the opposite sex and submit blood test report(s) as requested by the Commissioner for random checking of his or her hormonal profile.
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Feb 6, 2023–Apr 2, 2024
Legal, no restrictions
The Court of Final Appeal ruled in favour of the two men and found the surgical requirement unconstitutional.
May 13, 2013–Feb 5, 2023
Legal, but requires surgery
The Hong Kong Supreme Court ruled that post-operative transgender people could change their legal gender for purposes including marriage.
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Gender-affirming care in Hong Kong

?

Gender-affirming care in Hong Kong is legal, but banned for minors.

Current status
Since 2016
Legal, but banned for minors
Since 2016, Hong Kong provides gender affirming healthcare for adults but minors are unable to access it.

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Hong Kong

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Hong Kong is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Hong Kong

?

LGBT discrimination in Hong Kong is illegal in some contexts.

LGBT employment discrimination in Hong Kong

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Hong Kong is no protections.

Current status
Since Sep 18, 2018
No protections
There is currently is no legal prohibition of sexual orientation-based employment
discrimination in the private sector.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Hong Kong

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Hong Kong is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Hong Kong

?

Same-sex adoption in Hong Kong is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Intersex infant surgery in Hong Kong

?

Intersex infant surgery in Hong Kong is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Hong Kong

?

Serving openly in military in Hong Kong is n/a.

Current status
Since Jul 1, 1997
N/A
Since the British handover of Hong Kong to China, there has been no military force of Hong Kong with all defence activities being the responsibility of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Hong Kong

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Hong Kong is banned (6-month deferral).

Current status
Since Dec 16, 2021
Banned (6-month deferral)
Deferral was lowered to 6 months.
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Sep 25, 2017–Dec 15, 2021
Banned (1-year deferral)
There is a one year deferral for MSMs.

Conversion therapy in Hong Kong

?

Conversion therapy in Hong Kong is ambiguous.

Current status
Since 2013
Ambiguous
Although a Beijing court ruled conversion therapy illegal in 2014, there is no outright ban and the practice remains widespread throughout China. This includes the SAR of Hong Kong.

Equal age of consent in Hong Kong

?

Equal age of consent in Hong Kong is equal.

Current status
Since 2005
Equal
In 2005, Hong Kong’s High Court ruled that the unequal age of consent between hetero and homosexual sexual activities was unconstitutional.
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Unequal
When homosexuality was decriminalised in Hong Kong in 1991, a higher age of consent was set at 21 for homosexual sex acts while it was 16 for heterosexual ones. It was ruled unconstitutional by the High Court in 2005.
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