Victory by transgender people over Hong Kong ID documents sparks confusion over rules and timetable
- Court ruling to allow gender changes on ID cards causes concern over how it will be done and when
- Question marks over policies in places such as public toilets, changing rooms, hospitals and prisons remain, the Post has found
Transgender people in Hong Kong may have scored a victory over gender status on identification documents, but the court ruling has caused confusion over administrative procedures to be followed and when they would be allowed to make alterations to their papers.
Question marks over the use of public toilets, changing rooms and hospitals – places transgender people have complained about because they were categorised by the gender on their documents – were highlighted on Tuesday.
Transgender people who are jailed are also sent to prisons based on their gender at birth.
A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said that people could use “accessible toilets” or gender-neutral “universal toilets” regardless of their gender, or choose whether to go to a male or female toilet based on the details on their identity card.
But the authorities have yet to announce details of requirements under which a transgender individual could alter their identification documents now that the standard of a full gender reassignment surgical procedure was no longer applicable.
