The legal framework
The Marriage Ordinance requires notice to the Registrar and a ceremony before a registrar or a competent minister. In 2023 the Court of Final Appeal held in Sham Tsz Kit that the government must establish an alternative framework recognising same-sex partnerships, giving it a period to comply.
Key points
| Age | 16 with written parental consent; 21 without |
|---|---|
| Polygamy | Prohibited since the 1971 marriage reform; concubinage is recognised only for unions predating it. |
| Notice | Given to the Marriage Registry, valid for three months |
| Same-sex marriage | Not available; a recognition framework was ordered by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023 |
| Overseas same-sex marriages | Recognised for specific purposes such as tax, housing and dependant visas, following litigation |
| Celebrants | Registrars and civil celebrants of marriages |
| Witnesses | Two |
| Notice validity | The notice of intended marriage is valid for three months |
| Civil celebrants | Introduced in 2006; they may officiate anywhere in Hong Kong |
| Competent ministers | May officiate in licensed places of worship |
In practice
- Give notice at the Marriage Registry or through a civil celebrant.
- Bring identity documents and evidence of the end of any previous marriage.
- Order the marriage certificate after the ceremony.
- Same-sex couples should take advice on which specific entitlements are currently recognised.
- Give notice at a marriage registry; the three-month validity period starts then.
- Civil celebrants allow ceremonies outside registry hours and venues.
Cost and coverage
Registry fees are modest; civil celebrants set their own fees.
Recent changes
A series of court decisions has extended specific rights to same-sex couples married abroad — spousal visas, tax treatment, public housing — even without recognition of the marriage itself.
Where to go
- Immigration Department Marriage Registries.
- Civil celebrants of marriages, listed publicly.
- Equal Opportunities Commission for discrimination questions.
Worth knowing
For same-sex couples, the position in Hong Kong is a patchwork built from individual court rulings: entitlements have to be checked one by one rather than assumed from the marriage itself. The courts have required a framework for recognising same-sex partnerships for specific purposes. That is not the same as marriage, and the details are still developing.
Official sources and links
- GovHK — official government portal