Hong Kong Premier League

History

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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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 the 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 the 2017–18 season, becoming the first club to repeat as champions the following year.

In the 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.

Since 2022–23 season, the Premier League Committee was established. The committee focuses on promoting the Hong Kong Premier League in the market and seeking commercial sponsorships, and achieving box office revenue sharing.

In the 2023–24 season, the video assistant referee (VAR) review system was introduced. Lee Man won the league with a game to spare, winning their first ever top flight championship.

Format

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. 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.

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 current champions of the league and the champions of the Hong Kong FA Cup qualify for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two. 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.

Reserve / U22 League

From 2014 to 2023, each Hong Kong Premier League team form their own reserve team which competes in the Hong Kong Reserve League.

Starting from the 2024–25 season, each Hong Kong Premier League team form their own U22 team which competes in the Hong Kong U22 League.

Clubs

As of the 2025–26 season, a total of 10 teams currently participate in the Hong Kong Premier League.

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

Timeline

DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:2014 till:2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:100 left:20 bottom:50 top:5 Colors = id:barcolor id:line value:pink id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a current league member id:Former value:rgb(0.4,0.80,0.67) # Use this color to denote a team that is a former league member id:Future value:rgb(0.5,0.7,0.95)

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:Full from:2014 till:end text:Eastern (2014–15 to present)

bar:2 color:Full from:2014 till:end text:Kitchee (2014–15 to present)

bar:3 color:Former from:2014 till:2021 text:Pegasus (2014–15 to 2020/21)

bar:4 color:Full from:2014 till:2018 text:Rangers (2014–15 to 2017–18; 2019–20 to present) bar:4 color:Full from:2019 till:end

bar:5 color:Former from:2014 till:2017 text:South China (2014–15 to 2016–17)

bar:6 color:Full from:2014 till:2015 text:Tai Po (2014–15; 2016–17 to 2019–20; 2022–23 to present) bar:6 color:Full from:2016 till:2020 bar:6 color:Full from:2022 till:end

bar:9 color:Former from:2014 till:2016 text:Wong Tai Sin (2014–15 to 2015–16)

bar:7 color:Former from:2014 till:2016 text:YFCMD/Dreams Metro Gallery (2014–15 to 2015–16)

bar:8 color:Former from:2014 till:2020 text:Yuen Long (2014–15 to 2019–20)

bar:10 color:Full from:2015 till:end text:Southern (2015–16 to present)

bar:11 color:Former from:2016 till:2019 text:Biu Chun Glory Sky/Dreams FC (2016–17 to 2018–19)

bar:12 color:Full from:2016 till:2017 text:HKFC (2016–17; 2021–22 to present) bar:12 color:Full from:2021 till:end

bar:13 color:Former from:2016 till:2020 text:R&F (2016–17 to 2019–20)

bar:14 color:Full from:2017 till:end text:Lee Man (2017–18 to present)

bar:15 color:Former from:2018 till:2019 text:Hoi King (2018–19)

bar:16 color:Former from:2019 till:2021 text:Happy Valley (2019–20 to 2020–21)

bar:17 color:Former from:2020 till:2024 text:Resource Capital (2020–21 to 2023–24)

bar:18 color:Former from:2021 till:2024 text:HK U23 (2021–22 to 2023–24)

bar:19 color:Former from:2022 till:2024 text:Sham Shui Po (2022–23 to 2023–24)

bar:20 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:North District (2023–24 to present)

bar:21 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Kowloon City (2024–25 to present)

bar:22 color:Full from:2025 till:end text:Eastern District (2025–26 to present)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2014 TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center) text:

Stadia and locations

Primary venues used in the Hong Kong Premier League:

Champions

Titles by clubs

Attendance record

Media coverage

Live matches and highlights shows are provided 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.

Other tournaments

Domestic tournaments

• FA Cup (1975–present)
• Senior Shield (1896–present)
• League Cup (2000–2009, 2010–2012, 2014–2016, 2025–present)
• U22 League (2024–present)
• Community Cup (2014–2018)
• Reserve League (1956–2023)
• HKPLC Cup (2023–2024)
• Sapling Cup (2015–2025)

Continental tournaments

• AFC Champions League Two (2004–2016, 2019–2022, 2024–present)
• AFC Champions League Elite (2002–2003, 2014–2024)

References

References

1. (7 February 2013). "Hong Kong soccer body seeks HK$20m in sponsorship for new Premier League". South China Morning Post.
2. (9 July 2014). "New Hong Kong Premier League no different to First Division: Peter Leung".
3. (26 May 2014). "Premier League's viability in doubt as HKFA deadline looms".
4. "Cash-Strapped District Clubs Thrown 'Lifeline' To Take Part In Hong Kong Premier League".
5. (8 November 2014). "Project Phoenix comes to an end".
6. 高詩琦. (2022-08-20). "港超聯賽會試辦三年推票房共享 伍健：傑志球迷可為東方南區打氣".
7. (2022-06-22). "Hong Kong Football Association to invest HK$10 million in VAR system".
8. link. (2 January 2017 in Chinese, from [[Apple Daily]])
9. (22 August 2014). "港超聯搵埋贊助玩大佢". [[Oriental Daily]].
10. "The Hong Kong Football Podcast".