Divorce applications rise 25% in Hong Kong as younger couples look to split
- Last year 20,621 applications were filed with the Family Court, the most since 2019
- High number of cases is not a good thing for Hong Kong society, family lawyer says
The number of divorce applications in Hong Kong rose 25 per cent year on year in 2023, with a family lawyer pointing to a surge in younger couples seeking to split for reasons such as adultery and conflicts over parenting.
According to a paper the judiciary submitted to the Legislative Council’s Special Finance Committee on Thursday, the number of divorce cases filed with the Family Court increased to 20,621 last year from 16,513 in 2022.
Last year’s number was the highest since 2019, when 22,074 applications were filed and the average waiting time between the setting down of a case to the hearing ranged from 81 to 89 days. The waiting time last year was between 53 and 71 days.
“The high number of divorce cases is certainly not a good thing for Hong Kong society, where the administration has actively called for a boost in birth rates,” said family lawyer Jocelyn Tsao, who started her practice in 2007.
The Census and Statistics Department said in February that the city had recorded 33,200 births last year, a 2 per cent increase over 2022, and the first uptick since 2017.