Hong Kong housing authorities quietly open door for same-sex couples
The measures, including modifying the application form for seeking second-hand subsidised homes, were implemented without any public announcement.
While lawmakers said the government had responded to the Court of Final Appeal's decision prudently and within a reasonable time frame, a concern group expressed hope that the changes could have been publicly announced.
In a reply to the Post, the Housing Authority said: 'Upon receiving [public rental home] applications involving same-sex married spouses, we will handle the case in accordance with the practice adopted for the 'ordinary families' applicant category.'
A spokesman added that the authority would continue to process such applications and those for buying subsidised flats from same-sex married couples.
The authority had yet to receive any public rental housing applications from any same-sex couples as of Thursday.
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Hong Kong housing authorities quietly open door for same-sex couples
Hong Kong's housing authorities have opened up applications for public rental and subsidised homes to same-sex couples as part of efforts to address a ruling from the city's top court last year, the Post has learned. The measures, including modifying the application form for seeking second-hand subsidised homes, were implemented without any public announcement. While lawmakers said the government had responded to the Court of Final Appeal's decision prudently and within a reasonable time frame, a concern group expressed hope that the changes could have been publicly announced. In a reply to the Post, the Housing Authority said: 'Upon receiving [public rental home] applications involving same-sex married spouses, we will handle the case in accordance with the practice adopted for the 'ordinary families' applicant category.' A spokesman added that the authority would continue to process such applications and those for buying subsidised flats from same-sex married couples. The authority had yet to receive any public rental housing applications from any same-sex couples as of Thursday.
