# Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong

The Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong held the second-highest position during the British colonial rule in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1902.

## History

Although Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was the second-highest position in Hong Kong, the Lieutenant Governor did not have any actual power in the Government – that power usually was gained by the Colonial Secretary.
The first Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was George D'Aguilar and the post was subsequently held by the Commander British Forces in Hong Kong, thus all were British Army officers.

## List of lieutenant governors

British Hong Kong :
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Governor | Ref |
| No. | Portrait | Name | From | To | Governor | Ref |
| 1 | | George D'Aguilar 德忌笠 Major General | 1843 | 1848 | Sir Henry Pottinger (1843–1844) | |
| 1 | | George D'Aguilar 德忌笠 Major General | 1843 | 1848 | Sir John Francis Davis (1843–1848) | |
| 2 | | William Staveley Major General | 1848 | 1851 | Sir George Bonham (1848–1854) | |
| 3 | | William Jervois Major General | 1851 | 1854 | Sir George Bonham (1848–1854) | |
| 4 | | Sir Robert Garrett Major General | 1854 | 1857 | Sir John Bowring (1854–1859) | |
| 5 | | Thomas Ashburnham Major General | 1857 | 1858 | Sir John Bowring (1854–1859) | |
| 6 | | Sir Charles van Straubenzee Major General | 1858 | 1859 | Sir John Bowring (1854–1859) | |
| 6 | | Sir Charles van Straubenzee Major General | 1858 | 1859 | Sir Hercules Robinson (1859–1865) | |
| 7 | | Sir James Grant Major General | 1860 | 1861 | Sir Hercules Robinson (1859–1865) | |
| 8 | | Sir John Michel Major General | 1861 | 1862 | Sir Hercules Robinson (1859–1865) | |
| 9 | | Sir Charles Staveley Major General | 1862 | 1863 | Sir Hercules Robinson (1859–1865) | |
| 10 | | William Brown Major General | 1863 | 1864 | Sir Hercules Robinson (1859–1865) | |
| 11 | | Sir Philip Guy Major General | 1864 | 1867 | Sir Hercules Robinson (1859–1865) | |
| 11 | | Sir Philip Guy Major General | 1864 | 1867 | Sir Richard MacDonnell (1866–1872) | |
| 12 | | James Brunker Major General | 1867 | 1869 | Sir Richard MacDonnell (1866–1872) | |
| Lieutenant Governor lapses from Formal Use; Second-in-command goes to Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong |||||||

## Demise of the post

From the 1870s to 1902, the role lapsed from formal use and the second in command was transferred to the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong (Chief Secretary from 1976 to 1997). The following individuals may (or may not) have retained the title for special occasions
British Hong Kong :
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Governor | Ref |
| No. | Portrait | Name | From | To | Governor | Ref |
| 1 | | Henry Whitfield 威非路 Major General | 1869 | 1874 | Sir Richard MacDonnell (1866–1872) | |
| 1 | | Henry Whitfield 威非路 Major General | 1869 | 1874 | Sir Arthur Kennedy (1872–1877) | |
| 2 | | Sir Francis Colborne Lieutenant General | 1874 | 1878 | Sir Arthur Kennedy (1872–1877) | |
| 2 | | Sir Francis Colborne Lieutenant General | 1874 | 1878 | Sir John Pope Hennessy (1877–1882) | |
| 3 | | Edward Donovan Lieutenant General | 1878 | 1882 | Sir John Pope Hennessy (1877–1882) | |
| 4 | | John Sargent Lieutenant General | 1882 | 1885 | Sir John Pope Hennessy (1877–1882) | |
| 4 | | John Sargent Lieutenant General | 1882 | 1885 | Sir George Bowen (1883–1887) | |
| 5 | | Sir William Cameron 金馬倫 Lieutenant General | 1885 | 1889 | Sir George Bowen (1883–1887) | |
| 5 | | Sir William Cameron 金馬倫 Lieutenant General | 1885 | 1889 | Sir William Des Voeux (1887–1891) | |
| 6 | | Sir James Edwards Major General | 1889 | 1890 | Sir William Des Voeux (1887–1891) | |
| 7 | | Sir George Barker 白加 Major General | 1890 | 1895 | Sir William Des Voeux (1887–1891) | |
| 7 | | Sir George Barker 白加 Major General | 1890 | 1895 | Sir William Robinson (1891–1898) | |
| 8 | | Sir Wilsone Black 布力 Major General | 1895 | 1898 | Sir William Robinson (1891–1898) | |
| 9 | | Sir William Gascoigne Major General | 1898 | 1902 | Sir William Robinson (1891–1898) | |
| 9 | | Sir William Gascoigne Major General | 1898 | 1902 | Sir Wilsone Black (1 February 1898 – 25 November 1898) | |
| 9 | | Sir William Gascoigne Major General | 1898 | 1902 | Sir Henry Arthur Blake (1898–1903) | |

## Residence

The Lieutenant Governor as Commander of British Forces resided at Flagstaff House, then known as Headquarter House, from 1844 to 1902.