Governor of Hong Kong - The Governor

The Governor

The Governor's powers and duties 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 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 Hong Kong Chinese 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 was the President of the Executive Council, and until 1993, the Legislative Council.

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.

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.