Same-sex couples can also apply for public and rental housing in Hong Kong. It is a follow-up administrative measure following a ruling by the Hong Kong Supreme Court last year that recognized same-sex couples’ move into public and rental housing and joint ownership of housing.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 5th that the Hong Kong Housing Authority has also decided to grant same-sex couples the eligibility to apply for public and rental housing and auxiliary housing (housing offered at a lower price to low-income families).
In the previous application for the “White Form Secondary Market Plan (WSM),” Hong Kong’s housing policy that allows young people between the ages of 18 and 40 to purchase public and rental housing, they could only choose “husband” or “wife” in the family relationship category. However, the move will allow them to choose “spouse,” a gender-neutral expression.
The Korea Housing Administration said, “If the same-sex couple submit an application for public and rental housing, they will process it according to the same procedure as the ‘non-current family’ applicant.”
“It was a simple amendment to use as a spouse in the family relations section of the application, but this allows same-sex couples to apply without unnecessary social pressure,” said Scott Liang, a legislative member (member of the National Assembly). “With this administrative measure, the need to re-discuss the definition of marriage terms for a long time has virtually disappeared,” he added.
However, this measure was implemented without any notice from the authorities until it was reported. Jerome Yau, co-founder of the Hong Kong Marriage Equality organization, pointed out that such important matters should be made public through official channels such as press releases. The SCMP also assessed that the authorities “quietly opened the door.”
The Hong Kong authorities’ decision came after the Hong Kong Supreme Court ruled in November last year that same-sex couples should be given housing assistance benefits. At the time, the court ruled in favor of the same-sex couple in a lawsuit filed against the Housing Authority’s ban on the purchase of public and rental homes and co-habitation of the same-sex couple.
Hong Kong decriminalized same-sex sexual activity in 1991, but still does not legally recognize same-sex couples’ marriages.
SAM KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
