The Governor of Hong Kong was the representative of the British Monarchy by the order of the Privy Council, head of the Government of Hong Kong, ex-officio Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral of Hong Kong during British rule between 1841 and 1997.

Upon the end of British rule and the transfer of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997, this office was replaced by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

The Governor

right|thumb|200px|Uniform of the Governor of HK
The Governor's powers and duties were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions. The Governor, appointed by the British monarch (on the advice of the prime minister), maintained executive power in Hong Kong throughout British rule, 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 appointed most, if not all, of the members of the colony's legislature the Legislative Council (known colloquially as LegCo), which was largely an advisory body before election was introduced until the first indirect elections of LegCo in 1985, and all members of the Executive Council (ExCo), effectively the cabinet of the colonial government. Initially both Councils were dominated by British expatriates, although this gave way to more local Chinese Hong Konger appointees in later years. Most recent governors of Hong Kong were professional diplomats, save the last Governor, Chris Patten, who was a career politician. The governor is the president of the Executive Council, and until 1993, the Legislative Council.

At 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.

Acting Governor/Administrator

In the absence of the Governor, the Chief Secretary was the acting Governor of the colony. Most were from the Colonial Office or British Army officers. One Royal Navy Vice Admiral has served as administrator after World War II. Four Japanese military officers (3 army officers and 1 naval vice admiral) served as administrator during World War II.

Transport

The Governor of Hong Kong used a Daimler DS420 for day to day transport and a Rolls-Royce Phantom V landaulette for ceremonial occasions. Both vehicles were removed by the Royal Navy immediately following the handover to China on 1 July 1997.

Residences of the governors

• The first governor, Sir Henry Pottinger, resided in the Former French Mission Building from 1843 to 1846. The building now houses the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. His successor, John Francis Davis, also lived there for a while, before moving to Caine Road.

• From the 4th governor, (Sir John Bowring), until the last one, (Chris Patten), governors resided at Government House.

List

Hong Kong had 28 governors, and 9 administrators:

Firsts

• Charles Elliot - first military administrator to serve as Governor

• Henry Eldred Curwen Pottinger - first Governor of Hong Kong

• John Francis Davis - first Sinologist to serve as Governor

• John Bowring - first Puritan to serve as Governor

• John Pope Hennessy - first Irishman to serve as Governor

• Matthew Nathan - first Jew to serve as Governor

• Cecil Clementi - first Indian born and Cantonese speaking to serve as Governor

• Mark Aitchison Young - first prisoner of war to serve as Governor

• Takashi Sakai - first Japanese administrator to serve as Governor

• Edward Youde - first Governor fluent in Mandarin; first and only Governor to die in office

• Chris Patten - first non diplomat to serve as Governor and first Governor not to don the formal dress as Governor

See also

• History of Hong Kong

• Chief Executive of Hong Kong