A Hong Kong court has ordered the striking down of regulations banning individuals from using public toilets designated for the opposite sex, in a ruling expected to improve treatment of transgender people.

A Hong Kong court ruled  on Wednesday in favour of a transgender person who challenged laws that criminalise them for going into public toilets that align with their chosen gender identity. Judge Russell Coleman struck down the two provisions that made it criminal to do so but suspended the ruling for 12 months to let the government "consider whether it wishes to implement a way to deal with the contravention".

Transgender people are entitled to use public toilets according to their affirmed genders, a Hong Kong court has ruled in a landmark legal challenge filed by a transman. High Court Judge Russell Coleman said in a judgment delivered on Wednesday that the Public Conveniences (Conduct and Behaviour) Regulation (PCCBR),