Concerns Over Declining Support for LGBTQ+ Community in Hong Kong
Advocacy groups and lawmakers have expressed growing concerns over the decreasing efforts by a Hong Kong government task force to promote sexual diversity. For the first time in a decade, the task force responsible for addressing gender identity and sexual orientation did not conduct any publicity campaigns in the latest financial year. This has raised questions about whether authorities are taking a less supportive stance towards the local LGBTQ+ community.
The Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Unit (GISOU), which operates under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, has seen a significant reduction in its activities. According to figures from the unit, it only received seven complaints between 2015 and 2025. Advocacy groups argue that this number does not reflect the true situation, as many individuals may be hesitant to report discrimination due to a lack of legal protections.
Hong Kong currently lacks specific legislation against discrimination based on sexual orientation. While the GISOU accepts such complaints, it has no legal authority to follow up on cases. The unit is also composed of just two executive officers, further limiting its capacity to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
In response to inquiries, a bureau spokesman stated that the GISOU had not conducted any publicity work in the previous financial year. He explained that the unit “had to focus on a number of important tasks” but did not provide further details. The government claimed it was exploring more effective ways to promote its message, but the lack of transparency has led to further scrutiny.
Financial Cuts and Reduced Publicity Efforts
Official data shows that the GISOU’s spending on publicity efforts has been declining in recent years. From HK$2.52 million (US$321,740) in 2021-22, the budget dropped to HK$1.79 million in 2024-25. For the upcoming financial year, 2026-27, the unit has allocated HK$1.2 million (US$153,210), representing a 33% decrease from the previous year.
Despite these cuts, the GISOU continues to manage the Equal Opportunities (Sexual Orientation) Funding Scheme, which provided subsidies to seven community projects in 2025-26. However, this funding decreased by 43% compared to the previous financial year.
Calls for Greater Government Involvement
Lawmaker Reverend Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming has urged the government to resume its publicity campaigns and emphasized the importance of promoting an inclusive society. He questioned the reasons behind the absence of such efforts and asked whether the situation in Hong Kong had improved significantly or if the government no longer saw the need for these campaigns.
Koon stressed that the GISOU is the only government unit dedicated to addressing discrimination against sexual minorities and should continue fulfilling its responsibilities.
Francis Tang Yiu-kwong, founder of the advocacy group Gay Harmony, raised concerns about the government’s commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. He pointed out that the GISOU’s publicity budget is relatively modest, comparable to the funding given to a single community care team. These teams serve residential areas with thousands of residents and receive several million dollars annually.
Tang also noted that the GISOU used to engage regularly with the LGBTQ+ community, but such interactions have become rare in recent years. He called on the government to reconnect with advocacy groups to better understand their needs.
Challenges in Reporting Discrimination
The GISOU maintains a hotline for inquiries and complaints, but the unit has received only seven complaints over the past decade—fewer than one per year on average. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau stated that the number of complaints has remained stable in recent years but declined to comment on whether the GISOU had evaluated the reasons behind the low figure or planned to increase promotion efforts.
Jerome Yau, co-founder of HK Marriage Equality, highlighted that members of the LGBTQ+ community often hesitate to file complaints due to the absence of specific legislation targeting discrimination based on sexual orientation. He explained that without a legal enforcement mechanism, individuals may feel that filing a complaint is ineffective.
Yau called for the establishment of a system to encourage residents to report discrimination and argued that this would help gather more credible data. He also urged the government to expedite the enactment of a “Sexual Orientation Discrimination Ordinance” and to maintain educational efforts while offering more resources for projects that promote social inclusion and respect for sexual minority groups.
Ongoing Challenges and Future Steps
LGBTQ+ rights in Hong Kong have been under the spotlight following the government’s proposal of the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill. This bill aimed to grant “core rights” to same-sex couples after a 2023 Court of Final Appeal ruling. However, the bill was rejected by the legislature, and authorities later indicated they would consider administrative measures to protect same-sex couples’ rights.
In addition, Hong Kong’s largest annual LGBTQ+ event, Pink Dot HK, announced that it had to cancel the event for the second consecutive year after a property manager withdrew its support.
As the conversation around LGBTQ+ rights continues, the need for increased government support, legal protections, and public awareness remains critical. The voices of advocacy groups and lawmakers highlight the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Hong Kong.
