Governor of Hong Kong

The Governor of Hong Kong (????) was a British official who ruled Hong Kong during the colonial period between 1841 and 1997 and was ex officio Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral of Hong Kong.

Related Topics:
British - Hong Kong - Colonial - 1841 - 1997

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

Related Topics:
People's Republic of China - 1997 - Chief Executive of Hong Kong

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The Governor, appointed by the British monarch, 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 (which was largely an advisory body before election was introduced) the Legislative Council (known colloquially as LegCo) 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 Hong Kong Chinese appointees in later years. Most recent governors of Hong Kong were professional diplomats, but the last Governor, Chris Patten, was a career politician.

Related Topics:
British monarch - World War II - Legislative Council - 1985 - Executive Council - Cabinet - Diplomat - Chris Patten - Politician

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His powers and duties were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions. This includes enacting laws "with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council".

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