Hong Kong's top court has ruled that foreign same sex couples have the right to spousal visas in a landmark ruling for the socially conservative city.
In September, a British woman known as "QT" won the right to a spousal visa for her same-sex partner following a three-year legal battle.
However, the decision was immediately appealed by the Department of Immigration in the Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong's highest court.
Hong Kong's government has fought against similar cases that could serve as a step towards legalising same-sex marriage and include extending benefits to the same-sex partners of civil servants.
In its ruling on Wednesday, the court struck down the Immigration Department's current policy as "discriminatory."
It found that the ability to bring a dependent to Hong Kong was a legitimate concern in attracting "foreign talent" to the city and prioritising heterosexual couples was "counterproductive."
The ruling was immediately described as a "a milestone for Hong Kong and a watershed moment for the rights of LGBTI people across Asia," by rights watchdog Amnesty International.
The case has been closely watched by Hong Kong's large foreign expatriate population.
In March, 15 leading financial institutions, 16 law firms, and watchdog Amnesty International applied to file written submissions in support of QT but were ultimately rejected.
