Pink Friday Event on legal and healthcare pathways for same-sex couples
Pink Friday first began in 2014 when a group of Goldman Sachs Hong Kong employees wore pink T-shirts to show their support of an LGBTQ-inclusive work environment. In the following years it expanded across other divisions and offices across Asia Pacific, then into Europe, India and North America. In 2019, 60 organizations in Hong Kong participated in the inaugural multi-industry event, and in 2023 it expanded to 113 organizations in Asia Pacific. This event brings together companies that are passionate about diversity and have worked hard to promote inclusive work environments in Asia Pacific.
This year the event can count on the support of around 100 organisations in Hong Kong and across the globe. All participants strive to raise corporate awareness of LGBTQ+ issues by organizing their own events – either physical or virtual on the day.
Mike Kung of Goldman Sachs talks to Lisa Lam about the origin of #PinkFridayPride and its significance. He also shares some good memories about the event in the past 10 years and some highlights about Hong Kong Gay Games 2023 and yesterday’s quiz night, as well as the planned LGBTQ+ choir and ESG events happening later today.
Frances Tsang – Associate in the Family team at Hugill & Ip – discusses hopes and foreseeable future of LGBTQ+ equality in Hong Kong, while reflecting on landmark cases that saw brave individuals challenging the legal system at different court levels in the past two decades.
Lisa moves forward to the core topic of the event where Alfred Ip – Partner and Head of Private Client at Hugill & Ip – and Nick Tsui – Anesthesiologist and co-founder of Alongside – discuss key considerations on Estate Planning for same-sex couples.
They walk through several tools which are essential for the protection of same-sex coupes in Hong Kong: from Wills to Advance Medical Directives, from Enduring Powers of Attorney to other end-of-life issues. Planning is crucial in order avoid pitfalls that might negatively impact the autonomy and the respect of one’s last wishes upon passing away. They highlight the confusion within society about such Estate Planning tools, as well as the fragility of legal protections available to the LGBTQ+ community. Alfred enhances the importance of shielding your loved ones from possible litigation upon death, while Nick gives his take as a medical doctor.
Moreover, Nick talks about a research programme that Alongside has collaborated with The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong on end-of-life issues, including many individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+ community facing discrimination from different professional service providers. Detailled findings of the research programme will be discussed in an upcoming conference which will take place in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2025.
In the next chapter of the Pink Friday event, Aaron Leung – Barrister and Ambassador of Alongside – digs into his experience in the pilot simulation workshop on Advance Medical Directives. He was an actor during the workshop interpreting the boyfriend of a terminally ill man and he describes his feelings in that impending situation. Aaron stresses the importance of clearly communicating and providing on one’s wishes about end-of-life situations.
The next interviewee is Travis Kong – Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong – who discusses with Lisa about Hong Kong as an aging society and the need to caring of the elderly LGBTQ+ community. He talks about Grey & Pride recently celebrating its 10th anniversary: the registered charitable organisation wishes to create a more inclusive society where elderly can live without stigmas and prejudice.
Travis reviews challenges that the growing elder LGBTQ+ population faces in Hong Kong and changes he hopes our society will experience moving forward with times.
SHOW NOTES:
00:00:14 Mike Kung on Pink Friday 10th anniversary
00:09:27 Frances Tsang on opportunities and legal challenges in Hong Kong
00:23:10 Alfred Ip and Nick Tsui on the importance of Estate Planning
01:02:32 Aaron Leung on the pilot simulation workshop on Advance Medical Directives
01:09:51 Travis Kong on supporting Hong Kong elder LGBTQ+ population
01:24:06 Final credits
