Hong Kong said on Tuesday it will recognize overseas same-sex partnerships when granting dependent visas, more than two months after the city's top court ruled that a British lesbian should be granted a spousal visa in a landmark judgment.

International banks and law firms operating in the global financial hub have been keen to see the easing of visas rules for partners in same-sex relationships in the interests of strengthening Hong Kong's ability to attract global talent.

The policy revision announced on Tuesday includes same-sex civil partnerships, same-sex civil unions, same-sex marriage, opposite-sex civil partnerships or opposite-sex civil unions entered into outside Hong Kong, the government said.