Governor of Hong Kong
(Redirected from Hong Kong governor)
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The governor of Hong Kong was the representative of the British Crown in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1997. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and commander-in-chief of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions. Upon the end of British rule and the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, most of the civil functions of this office went to the chief executive of Hong Kong, and military functions went to the commander of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison.
Powers and functions
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Authorities and duties of the governor were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions in 1843. The governor, appointed by the British monarch (on the advice of the Foreign Secretary), exercised the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong throughout British sovereignty and, with the exception of a brief experiment after World War II, no serious attempt was made to introduce representative government, until the final years of British rule.
The governor of Hong Kong chaired the colonial cabinet, the Executive Council (ExCo), and, until 1993, was also the president of the Legislative Council. The governor appointed most, if not all, of the members of the colony's legislature (known colloquially as LegCo), which was largely an advisory body until the first indirect election to LegCo was held in 1985. Initially, both councils were dominated by British expatriates, but this progressively gave way to local Hong Kong Chinese appointees in later years. Historically, the governors of Hong Kong were either professional diplomats or senior colonial officials, except for the last governor, Chris Patten, who was a career politician. In December 1996, the governor's salary was HK$3,036,000 per annum, tax-free. It was fixed at 125% of the chief secretary's salary.[1]
In the absence of the governor, the chief secretary immediately became the acting governor of the colony. The chief secretaries were historically drawn from the Colonial Office or British military. One Royal Navy Vice Admiral served as administrator after World War II. Four Japanese military officers (three Army officers and one naval vice admiral) served as administrators during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in World War II.
Entitlements and benefits
Transport
The governor of Hong Kong used a Daimler DS420 for day to day transport and a Rolls-Royce Phantom V landaulet for ceremonial occasions. Both vehicles were removed by the Royal Navy immediately following the handover to China on 1 July 1997.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Residences
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- The first governor, Sir Henry Pottinger, 1st Bt., resided at the site of the now Former French Mission Building from 1843 to 1846. It was used as the home of the Provisional Government after Japanese surrender from 1945 to 1946. The building now houses the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. His successor, Sir John Davis, 1st Bt., also lived there before moving to Caine Road.
- Since the 4th governor, Sir John Bowring, the governors resided at Government House, excluding the period from 1941 to 1946.
- From 1941 to 1945 the Commandant of Japanese Forces as Military Governor of Hong Kong occupied Flagstaff House as their residence. The residence was returned to the Commander of British Forces following the end of World War II.
List of governors
British administrators and governors (1841–1941)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Term of office | Origin | Background | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
| File:Charles Elliot.png | Sir Charles Elliot Script error: No such module "Lang". (1801–1875)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
26 January 1841 | 12 August 1841 | Template:Age in years and days | Dresden, Saxony | Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China | [2][3] | |
| File:Alexander Robert Campbell Johnston.jpg | Alexander Robert Johnston Script error: No such module "Lang". (1812–1888)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Acting Administrator |
22 June 1841 | 1 February 1842 | Template:Age in years and days | Colombo, Ceylon | Deputy Superintendent of British Trade in China | [3][4][5] | |
| 13 June 1842 | 2 December 1842 | Template:Age in years and days | ||||||
| File:HenryPottinger.jpg | Sir Henry Pottinger Script error: No such module "Lang". (1789–1856)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
12 August 1841 | 26 June 1843 | Template:Age in years and days | Ballymacarrett, Ireland | Lieutenant-General, East India Company | [2][6] | |
| 1 | File:HenryPottinger.jpg | Sir Henry Pottinger Script error: No such module "Lang". (1789–1856)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
26 June 1843 | 8 May 1844 | Template:Age in years and days | Ballymacarrett, Ireland | Lieutenant-General | [7] |
| 2 | File:Tcitp d073 John Francis Davis Bart.jpg | Sir John Francis Davis Script error: No such module "Lang". (1795–1890)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
8 May 1844 | 21 March 1848 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China | [8] |
| 3 | File:Sir Samuel George Bonham.jpg | Sir George Bonham Script error: No such module "Lang". (1803–1863)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
21 March 1848 | 13 April 1854 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | East India Company | [9] |
| 4 | File:Sir John Bowring by John King.jpg | Sir John Bowring Script error: No such module "Lang". (1792–1872)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
13 April 1854 | 2 May 1859 | Template:Age in years and days | Exeter, England | Member of Parliament (MP) | [10] |
| File:Captain William Caine.jpg | William Caine Script error: No such module "Lang". (1799–1871)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Acting Governor |
2 May 1859 | 9 September 1859 | Template:Age in years and days | Maynooth, Ireland | Colonial Secretary | [11] | |
| 5 | File:LordRosmead.jpg | Sir Hercules Robinson Script error: No such module "Lang". (1824–1897)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
9 September 1859 | 15 March 1865 | Template:Age in years and days | Westmeath, Ireland | Colonial administrator | [12][13] |
| File:William Thomas MERCER.jpg | William Thomas Mercer Script error: No such module "Lang". (1821–1879)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Acting Governor |
15 March 1865 | 12 March 1866 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | Colonial Secretary | [13] | |
| 6 | File:Sir R. G. MacDonnell (Cropped).png | Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell Script error: No such module "Lang". (1814–1881)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
12 March 1866 | 11 April 1872 | Template:Age in years and days | Dublin, Ireland | Colonial administrator | [14][15][16] |
| Henry Wase Whitfield Script error: No such module "Lang". (1814–1877)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Lieutenant-Governor |
11 April 1872 | 16 April 1872 | Template:Age in years and days | England | Commander and lieutenant governor | [16] | ||
| 7 | File:ArthurEdwardKennedy.jpg | Sir Arthur Kennedy Script error: No such module "Lang". (1809–1883)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
16 April 1872 | 1 March 1877 | Template:Age in years and days | County Down, Ireland | Colonial administrator | [17][18] |
| File:John Gardiner Austin.jpg | John Gardiner Austin Script error: No such module "Lang". (1811–1900)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
1 March 1877 | 23 April 1877 | Template:Age in years and days | Lowlands Plantation, Demerara | Colonial administrator | [18] | |
| 8 | File:Portrait of John Pope Hennessy (cropped).jpg | Sir John Pope Hennessy Script error: No such module "Lang". (1834–1891)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
23 April 1877 | 7 March 1882 | Template:Age in years and days | County Cork, Ireland | Colonial administrator | [19][20] |
| Malcolm Struan Tonnochy Script error: No such module "Lang". (1841–1882)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
7 March 1882 | 28 March 1882 | Template:Age in years and days | Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, India | Colonial administrator | [20] | ||
| Sir William Henry Marsh Script error: No such module "Lang". (1827–1906)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
28 March 1882 | 30 March 1883 | Template:Age in years and days | England | Colonial administrator | [21] | ||
| 9 | File:George Bowen b.jpg | Sir George Bowen Script error: No such module "Lang". (1821–1899)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
30 March 1883 | 21 December 1885 | Template:Age in years and days | County Donegal, Ireland | Colonial administrator | [22] |
| Sir William Henry Marsh Script error: No such module "Lang". (1827–1906)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administrating the Government |
21 December 1885 | 25 April 1887 | Template:Age in years and days | England | Colonial administrator | [23] | ||
| File:William Gordon Cameron.jpg | William Gordon Cameron Script error: No such module "Lang". (1827–1913)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
25 April 1887 | 6 October 1887 | Template:Age in years and days | France | Commander and lieutenant governor, British Army | [24] | |
| 10 | File:Sir G. William Des Voeux (cropped).jpg | Sir William Des Vœux Script error: No such module "Lang". (1834–1909)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
6 October 1887 | 7 May 1891 | Template:Age in years and days | Baden-Baden, German Confederation | Colonial administrator | [25] |
| File:Sir George Digby BARKER (1833-1914) photo in 1906 Suffolk Leaders (cropped).jpg | Sir George Digby Barker Script error: No such module "Lang". (1833–1914)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
7 May 1891 | 10 December 1891 | Template:Age in years and days | Clare, England | Commander and lieutenant governor, British Army | [26] | |
| 11 | File:Sir William Robinson.jpg | Sir William Robinson Script error: No such module "Lang". (1836–1912)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
10 December 1891 | 1 February 1898 | Template:Age in years and days | Wetherden, England | Colonial administrator | [27][28] |
| Sir Wilsone Black Script error: No such module "Lang". (1837–1909)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
1 February 1898 | 25 November 1898 | Template:Age in years and days | Glasgow, Scotland | Commander and lieutenant governor | [28] | ||
| 12 | File:Henry Arthur Blake.jpg | Sir Henry Arthur Blake Script error: No such module "Lang". (1840–1918)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
25 November 1898 | 21 November 1903 | Template:Age in years and days | Limerick, Ireland | Colonial administrator | [29][30] |
| File:Francis Henry May.png | Sir Francis Henry May Script error: No such module "Lang". (1860–1922)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
21 November 1903 | 29 July 1904 | Template:Age in years and days | Dublin, Ireland | Colonial Secretary | [30] | |
| 13 | File:Sir Matthew Nathan.jpg | Sir Matthew Nathan Script error: No such module "Lang". (1862–1939)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
29 July 1904 | 20 April 1907 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | Colonial administrator | [31][32] |
| File:Francis Henry May.png | Sir Francis Henry May Script error: No such module "Lang". (1860–1922)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
20 April 1907 | 29 July 1907 | Template:Age in years and days | Dublin, Ireland | Colonial Secretary | [32] | |
| 14 | File:Frederick Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard (1894, cropped).jpg | Sir Frederick Lugard Script error: No such module "Lang". (1858–1945)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
29 July 1907 | 16 March 1912 | Template:Age in years and days | Madras, India | Colonial administrator | [33] |
| File:Sir Claud Severn.jpg | Claud Severn Script error: No such module "Lang". (1869–1933)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
16 March 1912 | 4 July 1912 | Template:Age in years and days | Adelaide, South Australia | Colonial administrator | [33] | |
| 15 | File:Francis Henry May.png | Sir Francis Henry May Script error: No such module "Lang". (1860–1922)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
4 July 1912 | 12 September 1918 | Template:Age in years and days | Dublin, Ireland | Colonial Secretary | [34][35][36] |
| File:Sir Claud Severn.jpg | Claud Severn Script error: No such module "Lang". (1869–1933)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
12 September 1918 | 30 September 1919 | Template:Age in years and days | Adelaide, South Australia | Colonial administrator | [36] | |
| 16 | File:SirReginaldStubbs.jpg | Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs Script error: No such module "Lang". (1876–1947)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
30 September 1919 | 31 October 1925 | Template:Age in years and days | Oxford, England | Colonial administrator | [37][38][39] |
| 17 | File:SIRCECILCLEMENTIHKU.jpg | Sir Cecil Clementi Script error: No such module "Lang". (1875–1947)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1 November 1925 | 1 February 1930 | Template:Age in years and days | Cawnpore, India | Colonial administrator | [40][41] |
| File:Sir Thomas Southorn.jpg | Thomas Southorn Script error: No such module "Lang". (1879–1957)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
1 February 1930 | 9 May 1930 | Template:Age in years and days | Durham, England | Colonial Secretary | [41] | |
| 18 | File:SirWilliamPeel HK.jpg | Sir William Peel Script error: No such module "Lang". (1875–1945)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
9 May 1930 | 17 May 1935 | Template:Age in years and days | Hexham, England | Colonial administrator | [42][43] |
| File:Sir Thomas Southorn.jpg | Thomas Southorn Script error: No such module "Lang". (1879–1957)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
17 May 1935 | 13 September 1935 | Template:Age in years and days | Leamington Spa, England | Colonial Secretary | [43][44] | |
| File:Norman Lockhart Smith.jpg | Norman Lockhart Smith Script error: No such module "Lang". (1887–1968)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
13 September 1935 | 1 November 1935 | Template:Age in years and days | Durham, England | Colonial administrator | [44][45] | |
| File:Sir Thomas Southorn.jpg | Thomas Southorn Script error: No such module "Lang". (1879–1957)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
1 November 1935 | 12 December 1935 | Template:Age in years and days | Leamington Spa, England | Colonial Secretary | [45] | |
| 19 | File:Sir Andrew Caldecott.jpg | Sir Andrew Caldecott Script error: No such module "Lang". (1884–1951)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
12 December 1935 | 16 April 1937 | Template:Age in years and days | Kent, England | Colonial administrator | [46][47] |
| File:Norman Lockhart Smith.jpg | Norman Lockhart Smith Script error: No such module "Lang". (1887–1968)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
16 April 1937 | 28 October 1937 | Template:Age in years and days | Durham, England | Colonial Secretary | [47] | |
| 20 | File:Sir Geoffry Northcote.jpg | Sir Geoffry Northcote Script error: No such module "Lang". (1881–1948)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
28 October 1937 | 6 September 1941 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | Colonial administrator | [48] |
| File:Norman Lockhart Smith.jpg | Norman Lockhart Smith Script error: No such module "Lang". (1887–1968)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Officer Administering the Government |
6 September 1941 | 10 September 1941 | Template:Age in years and days | Durham, England | Colonial Secretary | [49] | |
| 21 | File:Mark Young in 1930s.png | Sir Mark Aitchison Young Script error: No such module "Lang". (1886–1974)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
10 September 1941 | 25 December 1941 | Template:Age in years and days | India | Colonial administrator | [50] |
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Japanese occupation (1941–1945)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Term of office | Origin | Background | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
| File:Sakai Takashi.jpg | Takashi Sakai Script error: No such module "Lang". (1887–1946)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
25 December 1941 | 20 February 1942 | Template:Age in years and days | Kamo, Hiroshima | Lieutenant general | ||
| File:Niimi Masaichi.jpg | Masaichi Niimi Script error: No such module "Lang". (1887–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
Hiroshima, Hiroshima | Vice admiral | |||||
| 1 | File:Isogai Rensuke.jpg | Rensuke Isogai Script error: No such module "Lang". (1886–1967)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
20 February 1942 | 24 December 1944 | Template:Age in years and days | Tanba, Hyōgo | Lieutenant general | |
| 2 | File:Hisakazu.jpg | Hisakazu Tanaka Script error: No such module "Lang". (1889–1947)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1 February 1945 | 16 August 1945 | Template:Age in years and days | Himeji, Hyōgo | Lieutenant general | |
British administrators and governors (1945–1997)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Term of office | Origin | Background | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
| File:Frank Gimson.jpg | Sir Franklin Charles Gimson Script error: No such module "Lang". (1890–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Provisional Governor |
28 August 1945 | 30 August 1945 | Template:Age in years and days | Leicestershire, England | Colonial Secretary | ||
| File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A21407 (cropped).jpg | Sir Cecil Harcourt Script error: No such module "Lang". (1892–1959)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Military administration |
1 September 1945 | 1 May 1946 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | Admiral (Royal Navy) | ||
| 21 | File:Mark Young in 1930s.png | Sir Mark Aitchison Young Script error: No such module "Lang". (1886–1974)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1 May 1946 | 17 May 1947 | Template:Age in years and days | India | Colonial administrator | |
| File:MacDougall 4.jpg | David Mercer MacDougall Script error: No such module "Lang". (1904–1991)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
17 May 1947 | 25 July 1947 | Template:Age in years and days | Perth, Scotland | Colonial Secretary | ||
| 22 | Sir Alexander Grantham Script error: No such module "Lang". (1899–1978)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
25 July 1947 | 31 December 1957 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | Colonial administrator | ||
| Edgeworth Beresford David Script error: No such module "Lang". (1908–1965)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
31 December 1957 | 23 January 1958 | Template:Age in years and days | Dulwich, England | Colonial Secretary | |||
| 23 | Sir Robert Brown Black Script error: No such module "Lang". (1906–1999)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
23 January 1958 | 31 March 1964 | Template:Age in years and days | Edinburgh, Scotland | Colonial administrator | ||
| Edmund Brinsley Teesdale Script error: No such module "Lang". (1915–1997)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
31 March 1964 | 14 April 1964 | Template:Age in years and days | Shanghai, China | Colonial Secretary | |||
| 24 | File:David Crosbie Trench.jpg | Sir David C. C. Trench Script error: No such module "Lang". (1915–1988)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
14 April 1964 | 19 October 1971 | Template:Age in years and days | Quetta, India | Colonial administrator | |
| Sir Hugh Norman-Walker Script error: No such module "Lang". (1916–1985)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Administrator |
19 October 1971 | 19 November 1971 | Template:Age in years and days | London, England | Colonial Secretary | |||
| 25 | Sir Murray MacLehose Script error: No such module "Lang". (1917–2000)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
19 November 1971 | 8 May 1982 | Template:Age in years and days | Glasgow, Scotland | UK Ambassador to Denmark | ||
| Sir Philip Haddon-Cave Script error: No such module "Lang". (1925–1999)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Acting governor |
8 May 1982 | 20 May 1982 | Template:Age in years and days | Hobart, Australia | Chief Secretary | |||
| 26 | Sir Edward Youde Script error: No such module "Lang". (1924–1986)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
20 May 1982 | 4 December 1986 | Template:Age in years and days | Penarth, Wales | UK Ambassador to China | ||
| Sir David Akers-Jones Script error: No such module "Lang". (1927–2019)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Acting governor |
4 December 1986 | 9 April 1987 | Template:Age in years and days | Sussex, England | Chief Secretary | |||
| 27 | File:Official portrait of Lord Wilson of Tillyorn crop 2.jpg | Sir David Wilson Script error: No such module "Lang". (born 1935)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
9 April 1987 | 3 July 1992 | Template:Age in years and days | Clackmannanshire, Scotland | Diplomat | |
| Sir David Ford Script error: No such module "Lang". (1935–2017)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Acting governor |
3 July 1992 | 9 July 1992 | Template:Age in years and days | England | Chief Secretary | |||
| 28 | File:Lord PLUMB - EP President meets with UK Minister Chris PATTEN at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (cropped).jpg | Chris Patten Script error: No such module "Lang". (born 1944)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
9 July 1992 | 30 June 1997 | Template:Age in years and days | Lancashire, England | Chairman of Conservative Party | |
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Timeline
<timeline> Define $width = 1000 # 4 pixels per year ($end - $start) × 4 Define $warning = 880 # $width - 120 Define $height = 600 # 43 x 20 + 160
Define $start = 1787 Define $end = 2027 Define $now = 2026
ImageSize = width:$width height:$height PlotArea = right:10 left:1 bottom:80 top:60 Period = from:$start till:$end TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1
Colors =
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id:lightline value:rgb(0.9, 0.9, 0.9)
id:lighttext value:rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
id:LIFESPAN value:rgb(0.88, 0.90, 0.70) Legend: Lifespan
id:PRES_NON value:rgb(0.7, 0.7, 0.7) Legend: Nonpartisan
id:NAME value:rgb(0.15, 0.13, 0.05)
id:TODAY value:lightpurple
BackgroundColors = canvas:bg ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:year increment:1 start:$start ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:10 start:1790
Define $dy = -5 # shift text to button side of bar
LineData=
at:$now color:TODAY width:0.1
PlotData=
bar:1 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1789 till:1843 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Henry Pottingner color:PRES_NON from:1843 till:1844 color:LIFESPAN from:1844 till:1856
bar:2 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M from:1795 till:1844 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:John Francis Davis color:PRES_NON from:1844 till:1848 color:LIFESPAN from:1848 till:1890
bar:3 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1803 till:1848 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:George Bonham color:PRES_NON from:1848 till:1854 color:LIFESPAN from:1854 till:1863
bar:4 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1792 till:1854 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:John Bowring color:PRES_NON from:1854 till:1859 color:LIFESPAN from:1859 till:1872
bar:5 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1824 till:1859 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Hercules Robinson color:PRES_NON from:1859 till:1865 color:LIFESPAN from:1865 till:1897
bar:6 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1814 till:1866 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Richard Graves MacDonnell color:PRES_NON from:1866 till:1872 color:LIFESPAN from:1872 till:1881
bar:7 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1809 till:1872 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Arthur Kennedy color:PRES_NON from:1872 till:1877 color:LIFESPAN from:1877 till:1883
bar:8 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1834 till:1877 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:John Pope Hennessy color:PRES_NON from:1877 till:1882 color:LIFESPAN from:1882 till:1891
bar:9 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1821 till:1883 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:George Bowen color:PRES_NON from:1883 till:1885 color:LIFESPAN from:1885 till:1899
bar:10 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1834 till:1887 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:William Des Vœux color:PRES_NON from:1887 till:1891 color:LIFESPAN from:1891 till:1909
bar:11 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1836 till:1891 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:William Robinson color:PRES_NON from:1891 till:1898 color:LIFESPAN from:1898 till:1912
bar:12 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1840 till:1898 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Henry Arthur Blake color:PRES_NON from:1898 till:1903 color:LIFESPAN from:1903 till:1918
bar:13 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1862 till:1904 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Matthew Nathan color:PRES_NON from:1904 till:1907 color:LIFESPAN from:1907 till:1939
bar:14 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1858 till:1907 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Frederick Lugard color:PRES_NON from:1907 till:1912 color:LIFESPAN from:1912 till:1945
bar:15 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1860 till:1912 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Francis Henry May color:PRES_NON from:1912 till:1918 color:LIFESPAN from:1918 till:1922
bar:16 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1876 till:1919 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Reginald Edward Stubbs color:PRES_NON from:1919 till:1925 color:LIFESPAN from:1925 till:1947
bar:17 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1875 till:1925 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Cecil Clementi color:PRES_NON from:1925 till:1930 color:LIFESPAN from:1930 till:1947
bar:18 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1875 till:1930 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:William Peel color:PRES_NON from:1930 till:1935 color:LIFESPAN from:1935 till:1945
bar:19 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1884 till:1935 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Andrew Caldecott color:PRES_NON from:1935 till:1937 color:LIFESPAN from:1937 till:1951
bar:20 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1881 till:1937 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Geoffry Northcote color:PRES_NON from:1937 till:1941 color:LIFESPAN from:1941 till:1948
bar:21 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1886 till:1941 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mark Aitchison Young color:PRES_NON from:1941 till:1942 color:LIFESPAN from:1942 till:1946 color:PRES_NON from:1946 till:1947 color:LIFESPAN from:1947 till:1974
bar:22 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1899 till:1947 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Alexander Grantham color:PRES_NON from:1947 till:1957 color:LIFESPAN from:1957 till:1978
bar:23 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1906 till:1958 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Robert Brown Black color:PRES_NON from:1958 till:1964 color:LIFESPAN from:1964 till:1999
bar:24 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1915 till:1964 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:David Clive Trench color:PRES_NON from:1964 till:1971 color:LIFESPAN from:1971 till:1988
bar:25 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1917 till:1971 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Murray MacLehose color:PRES_NON from:1971 till:1982 color:LIFESPAN from:1982 till:2000
bar:26 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1924 till:1982 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Edward Youde color:PRES_NON from:1982 till:1986
bar:27 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1935 till:1987 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:David Clive Wilson color:PRES_NON from:1987 till:1992 color:LIFESPAN from:1992 till:$now
bar:28 width:14 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:1944 till:1992 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Chris Patten color:PRES_NON from:1992 till:1997 color:LIFESPAN from:1997 till:$now
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fontsize:M textcolor:red pos:($warning,30) text:Updated 2026
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pos:(280,$height) fontsize:L textcolor:black text:"Lifespan of each governor"</timeline>
Firsts
- Charles Elliot, first administrator
- Sir Henry Pottinger, first governor, first Irishman and first Ulsterman to serve in the role
- Sir John Francis Davis, first Sinologist to serve as governor
- Sir John Bowring, first Puritan to serve as governor
- Sir John Pope Hennessy, first Irish Catholic to serve as governor
- Sir Matthew Nathan, first Jew to serve as governor
- Sir Francis H. May, first police chief to serve as governor and the first governor to suffer an assassination attempt (which failed)
- Sir Cecil Clementi, first Indian-born and Cantonese-speaking governor
- Sir Mark Young, first prisoner of war to serve as governor
- Takashi Sakai, first Japanese administrator to serve as governor
- Cecil Harcourt, first British military administrator to serve as governor (all past governors with military service had retired before assuming the post)
- Sir Murray MacLehose, first non-colonial officer to serve as governor; he was a diplomat, a foreign service officer
- Sir Edward Youde, first governor fluent in Mandarin; only governor to die in office
- Chris Patten, first politician to serve as governor; only governor not to don the formal dress as governor; only governor never to have held any title of nobility or knighthood during his tenure, the last Governor of Hong Kong under British rule before 1 July 1997
Standards
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Standard of the governor of Hong Kong, 1910–1955
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Standard of the governor of Hong Kong, 1955–1959
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Standard of the governor of Hong Kong, 1959–1997
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See also
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- History of Hong Kong
- Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong – second in command and acting governor (Colonial Secretary took over such role since 1870s) when the governor was not in Hong Kong until 1902
- Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
References
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- ↑ House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 17 Dec 1996 (pt 3) Template:Webarchive
- ↑ a b Civil and Miscellaneous Lists: Hong Kong Government. Hong Kong: Government Printer. 1973. p. 101.
- ↑ a b Endacott, G. B. (2005) [1962]. A Biographical Sketch-book of Early Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. pp. 56–58. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ The Chinese Repository. Volume 10. Canton. 1841. pp. 351–352.
- ↑ The Chinese Repository. Volume 11. Canton. 1842. pp. 674–676, 685.
- ↑ Norton-Kyshe, James William (1898). The History of the Laws and Courts of Hong Kong. Volume 1. London: T. Fisher Unwin. p. 10.
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External links
- Places named after British monarchs, members of the Royal Family and colonial officials in Hong Kong Template:Webarchive
- Photos of all Hong Kong Governors
- Corpus of Political Speeches, Free access to political speeches by Governor of Hong Kong and other politicians, developed by Hong Kong Baptist University Library
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