Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal (HKCFA) on Tuesday ruled that the government had breached its rights under the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance by failing to set up a framework to legally recognize the rights. But the court dismissed part of an appeal to recognize same-sex marriages, including overseas unions. This is the first time that Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal has directly address the case of same-sex marriage. As part of the judgment, the court made a declaration that it was unconstitutional of the government not to have alternative means for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships – such as civil unions – and that it had to provide such frameworks.