Seventy-seven cases of disputed parentage were studied using the human leucocyte antigen system over a 14-year period in Hong Kong. Of these, 30 (39.0%) related to the amendment or verification of birth registration details, 20 (26.0%) were for divorce or affiliation proceedings, and 19 (24.7%) were related to overseas resident visa applications. An exclusion of parentage of at least one of the alleged parents was shown in 23 (29.9%) cases; none of the cases related to overseas resident visa applications showed an exclusion. The study illustrates that human leucocyte antigen testing is a very powerful tool in the elucidation of disputed parentage in Hong Kong.