Hong Kong order of precedence


The Hong Kong order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Hong Kong. Administered by the government's Protocol Division, the hierarchy does not determine the order of succession for the office of Chief Executive, which is instead specified by the Basic Law of Hong Kong.
As a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong maintains autonomy on all affairs other than defence and foreign relations. Reflecting that status, the order of precedence does not include state and party leaders of the Central People's Government. Government officials from mainland China are generally treated as special guests when attending Hong Kong government functions.

Hong Kong SAR order of precedence

  1. Chief Executive
  2. Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
  3. Former Chief Executives
  4. #Tung Chee Hwa, GBM
  5. #Donald Tsang, GBM
  6. #Leung Chun-ying, GBM, GBS, JP
  7. Chief Secretary for Administration
  8. Financial Secretary
  9. Secretary for Justice
  10. President of the Legislative Council and Members of the Executive Council:
  11. #President of the Legislative Council
  12. #Convenor of the Executive Council
  13. #Other members of the Executive Council:
  14. ##Laura Cha, GBM, GBS, JP
  15. ##Arthur Li, GBM, GBS, JP
  16. ##Chow Chung-kong, GBS, JP
  17. ##Fanny Law, GBS, JP
  18. ##Secretary for the Environment
  19. ##Jeffrey Lam, GBS, JP
  20. ##Secretary for Innovation and Technology
  21. ##Secretary for Home Affairs
  22. ##Ip Kwok-him, GBM, GBS, JP
  23. ##Tommy Cheung, GBS, JP
  24. ##Martin Liao, SBS, JP
  25. ##Joseph Yam, GBM, GBS, JP
  26. ##Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
  27. ##Regina Ip, GBS, JP
  28. ##Ronny Tong, SC
  29. ##Wong Kwok-kin, SBS, JP
  30. ##Secretary for Labour and Welfare
  31. ##Secretary for the Civil Service
  32. ##Secretary for Security
  33. ##Secretary for Transport and Housing
  34. ##Secretary for Food and Health
  35. ##Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
  36. ##Lam Ching-choi, BBS, JP
  37. ##Secretary for Development
  38. ##Secretary for Education
  39. ##Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
  40. ##Kenneth Lau, BBS, MH, JP
  41. ##Cheung Kwok-kwan, JP
  42. Other principal officials:
  43. #Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption
  44. #Commissioner of Police
  45. #Director of Audit
  46. #Director of Immigration
  47. #Commissioner of Customs and Excise
  48. Other members of the Court of Final Appeal and Chief Judge of the High Court:
  49. #Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal:
  50. ##Robert Ribeiro
  51. ##Joseph Fok
  52. ##Andrew Cheung
  53. #Non-Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal:
  54. ##James Spigelman AC, QC
  55. #Chief Judge of the High Court
  56. Other members of the Legislative Council
  57. Consuls-General
  58. Religious leaders:
  59. #Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
  60. #President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association
  61. #Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong
  62. #President of the Confucian Academy
  63. #Chairman of the Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association
  64. #Chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Council
  65. #Chairman of the Hong Kong Taoist Association
  66. Recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal
  67. Heads of universities
  68. #President of the City University of Hong Kong
  69. #President and Vice-Chancellor of the Hong Kong Baptist University
  70. #President of the Hong Kong Shue Yan University
  71. #President of the Lingnan University
  72. #Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
  73. #President of the Education University of Hong Kong
  74. #President of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
  75. #President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  76. #President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  77. #President of the Open University of Hong Kong
  78. #Vice-Chancellor and President the University of Hong Kong
  79. Other members of the High Court:
  80. #Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal
  81. #Judges of the Court of First Instance
  82. Public commissioners:
  83. #Chairman of the Public Service Commission
  84. #The Ombudsman
  85. Consuls-in-Charge/Honorary Consuls
  86. Permanent Secretaries, Under Secretaries and Officials of Directorate Grade 6 Rank and above
  87. Judges of the District Court:
  88. #Chief Judge of the District Court
  89. #Principal Family Court Judge
  90. #Other District Judges
  91. District Council Chairmen
  92. Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star
  93. Justices of the Peace
  94. Members of District Councils
  95. #District Council Vice Chairmen
  96. #Other District Council Members

    Hong Kong order of precedence until 1997

Office holders on 1 June 1997 in brackets:
  1. Governor
  2. Chief Justice
  3. Chief Secretary
  4. Commander British Forces in Hong Kong, if of the rank of Major General
  5. Heads of Churches
  6. #Bishop of Hong Kong
  7. #Roman Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong
  8. Financial Secretary
  9. Attorney General
  10. President of the Legislative Council
  11. Members of the Executive Council
  12. Other members of the Legislative Council
  13. Diplomatic Officers
  14. #Commonwealth Commissioners and Consuls-General de Carriere
  15. #Acting Commonwealth Commissioners and Acting Consuls-General de Carriere
  16. #Honorary Consuls-General
  17. #Senior British Trade Commissioner
  18. Heads of Universities
  19. #President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  20. #President and Vice-Chancellor of the Hong Kong Baptist University
  21. #President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  22. #Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong
  23. #President of the City University of Hong Kong
  24. #Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
  25. Judges of the Supreme Court
  26. #Justices of Appeal
  27. #Judges of the High Court
  28. Knights
  29. Heads of Public service units
  30. #Commissioner of police
  31. #Chairman of the Public Service Commission
  32. #The Ombudsman
  33. #Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption
  34. #Chairman of the Urban Council
  35. #Chairman of the Regional Council
  36. Consuls de Carriere who are Heads of Post
  37. Honorary Consuls who are Heads of Post
  38. Other Secretaries and Heads of Group I Departments
  39. Chief of Staff and Senior Naval Officer
  40. Hong Kong Commissioner in London
  41. Other Members of the Urban and Regional Councils
  42. Administrative Officer Staff Grade "A" and Heads of Departments of similar status
  43. District Judges
  44. District Board Chairmen
  45. Companions, Commanders, Officers and Members of Orders of Chivalry
  46. Justices of the Peace