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 theoretically 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. #Carrie Lam, GBM, GBS, JP
  8. Chief Secretary for Administration
  9. Financial Secretary
  10. Secretary for Justice
  11. President of the Legislative Council and Members of the Executive Council:
  12. #President of the Legislative Council
  13. #Convenor of the Executive Council
  14. #Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration
  15. #Deputy Financial Secretary
  16. #Deputy Secretary for Justice
  17. #Other members of the Executive Council
  18. Other principal officials:
  19. #Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption
  20. #Commissioner of Police
  21. #Director of Audit
  22. #Director of Immigration
  23. #Commissioner of Customs and Excise
  24. Other members of the Court of Final Appeal and Chief Judge of the High Court:
  25. #Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal:
  26. ##Robert Ribeiro, GBM
  27. ##Joseph Fok
  28. ##Johnson Lam
  29. #Non-Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal:
  30. ##Frank Stock GBS, JP
  31. ##Kemal Bokhary GBM, JP
  32. ##Patrick Chan Siu-oi GBM
  33. ##Robert Tang GBM, SBS, JP
  34. ##The Lord Hoffmann GBS
  35. ##The Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury GBS
  36. ##William Gummow AC
  37. ##Patrick Keane AC
  38. ##James Allsop AC
  39. #Chief Judge of the High Court
  40. Other members of the Legislative Council
  41. Consuls-General
  42. Religious leaders:
  43. # Anglican Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
  44. #President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association
  45. #Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong
  46. #President of the Confucian Academy
  47. #Chairman of the Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association
  48. #Chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Council
  49. #Chairman of the Hong Kong Taoist Association
  50. Recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal
  51. Heads of universities
  52. #President of the City University of Hong Kong
  53. #President and Vice-Chancellor of the Hong Kong Baptist University
  54. #President of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University
  55. #President of the Hong Kong Shue Yan University
  56. #President of the Lingnan University
  57. #Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
  58. #President of the Education University of Hong Kong
  59. #President of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
  60. #President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  61. #President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  62. #Vice-Chancellor and President the University of Hong Kong
  63. Other members of the High Court:
  64. #Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal
  65. #Judges of the Court of First Instance
  66. Public commissioners:
  67. #Chairman of the Public Service Commission
  68. #The Ombudsman
  69. Consuls-in-Charge/Honorary Consuls
  70. Permanent Secretaries, Under Secretaries and Officials of Directorate Grade 6 Rank and above
  71. Judges of the District Court:
  72. #Chief District Judge
  73. #Principal Family Court Judge
  74. #Other District Judges
  75. Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star
  76. Justices of the Peace
  77. District Council Chairmen and other members

Hong Kong order of precedence before 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