Gay Hong Kong widower withdraws legal challenge after government says same-sex couples have right to handle funeral arrangements

A gay widower who took the Hong Kong government to court over his late husband’s after-death arrangements has withdrawn his legal challenge, after authorities clarified that same-sex widows and widowers would be treated the same as opposite-sex ones.

Mr Justice Anderson Chow Ka-ming on Thursday formally settled an application for judicial review mounted by Henry Li Yik-ho, who had sued the government after being denied the right to independently make arrangements for his spouse, Edgar Ng Hon-lam, following his death in December.