Hong Kong Premier League

On 7 February 2013, the Hong Kong Football Association stated that the new Premier League would get under way in Autumn 2014, where it was suggested that the 2013–14 season would be a transition year.[1] As a result, the 2013–14 Hong Kong First Division League was the last season of the First Division to be the top tier of football in the Hong Kong league system.

The clubs already in the top division initially reacted negatively to the perceived increased running costs of competing in a professional league, particularly one where some felt that there was little difference to the old First Division.[2] Five clubs – Citizen, Southern, Sun Hei, Happy Valley and Tuen Mun all eventually decided against joining the new league, which led to fears that the HKFA's plan to start the league with a minimum of 8 teams would not be possible.[3] In the end, however, through public funding and government support, two teams from the Hong Kong Second Division were able to meet the new league licence requirements and were promoted, making a total of 9 teams for the first season.[4]

With the recent completion of 'Project Phoenix' which started in 2011, the league has seen some improvements with further amendments planned for the future. This includes a new five-year funding agreement, a new licensing scheme for league member clubs, prize money for all participating teams and new measures put in place against corruption and match-fixing.[5]

Kitchee were crowned as champions of the inaugural season, after amassing a total of 36 points in the league with only 2 losses. Tai Po finished bottom of the league with only 7 points.

The following season, Eastern won the league with a game to spare, winning their first top flight championship in 20 years. They also created history, as they were the first team in the world to win a top flight men's title whilst being managed by a female coach. Wong Tai Sin were relegated after finishing last in the league.

In 2016–17 season, Kitchee reclaimed the title on the final day of the season in a showdown with rivals Eastern, a game which they won 4–1. Eastern later won the End-of-Season playoffs and will therefore also compete along with Kitchee in the 2018 AFC Champions League. HKFC finished bottom of the table, and were thus automatically relegated to the First Division.

Kitchee successfully defended their title in 2017–18, becoming the first club to repeat as champions the following year.

In 2018–19 season, Tai Po won the league, becoming the first district team to win a top flight title since Yuen Long in 1962–63.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021–22 season was curtailed and ultimately cancelled, with the championship withheld: this was the first time a top flight league season had been cancelled since the Second World War.

In 2023–24 season, the video assistant referee (VAR) review system was introduced.[6]

The first season kicked off in September 2014, with 9 teams competing for the championship. It was initially suggested that a relegation system would not apply for the first few seasons, and that teams would continue to be promoted to the top-tier league until there were 12 member clubs.[7] In the end, however, the HKFA decided that one club would be relegated and one club would be promoted from the 2014–15 Hong Kong First Division League.[8]

By 2016–17, the league had expanded to 11 teams. The HKFA promoted Tai Po and HKFC who had finished at the top of the 2015–16 Hong Kong First Division into the league while adding expansion teams Hong Kong Sapling and R&F. Wong Tai Sin were relegated from the previous season and Metro Gallery chose to self relegate due to financial difficulties.

For the 2017–18 season, the league moved down to ten teams after Hong Kong's most successful and longest running top flight club South China chose to relegate themselves to the First Division in a shock move after the departure of their chairman, and them failing to find suitable financial means to keep the club in the Premier League. HKFC were also relegated after finishing bottom of the table.

The champions of the league qualify for the 2nd qualifying round of the AFC Champions League, while the champions of the Hong Kong FA Cup qualify for the playoff round of the AFC Cup. Should the league champions fail to qualify for the Champions League, they will instead receive Hong Kong's East Asia Zone group stage slot in the AFC Cup. Previously the FA Cup winners and the teams finishing in 2nd, 3rd and 4th competed in an end of season playoff for the final spot in the AFC Champions League, but this format was abolished after the 2016–17 season.

Each Hong Kong Premier League team form their own reserve team which competes in the Hong Kong Reserve Division League (Chinese: 香港預備組聯賽).

The Hong Kong Premier League trophy.

The structure of the prize money for the inaugural season is as below.[8]

As of August 2023, a total of 10 teams currently participate in the Hong Kong Premier League.

Rangers

Southern

Sham Shui Po

HKFC

Resources Capital

Eastern
Kitchee

Lee Man
HK U23

Tai Po

North District

Locations of the 2022–23 Hong Kong Premier League clubs

• Yellow denotes a newly promoted club entering the league this year.

Timeline

Current members Former members Future members

Stadia and locations

Primary venues used in the Hong Kong Premier League:

Kitchee Eastern	Sham Shui Po	Lee Man HK U23	Wofoo Tai Po	North District
Mong Kok Stadium	Sham Shui Po Sports Ground	Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground	Tai Po Sports Ground	North District Sports Ground
Capacity: 6,664	Capacity: 2,194	Capacity: 3,500	Capacity: 3,200	Capacity: 2,500
Resources Capital	HKFC	Kwoon Chung Southern	Biu Chun Rangers
Tsing Yi Sports Ground	HKFC Stadium	Aberdeen Sports Ground	Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground
Capacity: 1,500	Capacity: 2,750	Capacity: 9,000	Capacity: 2,200

Live matches and highlights shows are provided free of charge through ontv and RTHK TV in Cantonese.

With regards to English coverage, the official HKFA website, and to a lesser extent the South China Morning Post, provide match reports, player interviews, club information and league data. The Hong Kong Football Podcast also covers the HKPL on a fortnightly basis.[9]

Domestic tournaments

• Hong Kong Senior Shield (1896–present)
• Hong Kong FA Cup (1975–present)
• Hong Kong Sapling Cup (2015–present)
• Hong Kong League Cup (2000–2012, 2014–2016)
• Hong Kong Community Cup (2014–2018)
• Hong Kong Reserve Division League (1956–present)

Continental tournaments

• AFC Champions League
• AFC Cup

• Hong Kong Premier League on Facebook
• Hong Kong Premier League on Instagram
• Hong Kong Premier League at Soccerway