20 JUNE 2023 | APPLICABLE LAW: HONG KONG

Time: HKT 6.00pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Withers office, 30/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong

Despite the increasing recognition of LGBTQ rights in Southeast Asia in the past few decades, rights for same-sex partners in Hong Kong remain piecemeal and circumscribed.

In this session, our partner and Head of Family Team Hong Kong, Jocelyn Tsao, together with her twin sister Evelyn Tsao, human rights advocate and partner of Patricia Ho & Associates, will share their insights about how to protect the rights and status of same-sex couples and rainbow families within the limitations of our law. These include setting up of will and guardianship, enduring power of attorney, and issues involving child(ren) custody, care and control rights. They would also be giving practical advice on how to navigate day-to-day realities as lesbian and gay partners or parents. The vicissitudes of life could come hard and fast, and it is always better to plan ahead than to wait when it is too late.

Jocelyn and Evelyn will also share their recent experience working together in bringing about the first successful family law case in Hong Kong granting custody and guardianship rights to a same-sex couple (AA v. BB 2021 [HKCFI] 1401). The case marked a milestone event in the LGBT community's fight for equality, where the Court of First Instance ruled that the non-biological mother of children born by her prior same-sex partner should be granted guardianship rights, joint custody, and shared care and control over their children.

Agenda:
6.00pm Registration
6.30pm Sharing session
7.30pm Networking drinks

Please RSVP by clicking here. We hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you.