The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is ex officio the chancellor of all publicly funded universities in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive is also the president of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and chancellor of The Open University of Hong Kong. As the ceremonial head of these institutions, the Chief Executive may participate in ceremonial occasions, such as congregation and the conferral of degrees, and has the power to appoint a portion of the members of the university councils.
In emulation of the British system, the chancellor is expected to refrain from interfering in the academic affairs of the universities, with day-to-day management of the universities overseen by a vice-chancellor, who is the chief executive of the university.
The following is a list of the current vice-chancellors of the 22 degree-awarding institutions in Hong Kong.
Since the development of the university sector in Hong Kong (The University of Hong Kong 1887) a small number of Vice-Chancellors (President, Director) have served for 15 years or more. They include:
16 years: Poon Chung-kwong GBS OBE(Hong Kong Polytechnic 1991-2008);
15 years: Sir Lindsay Ride CBE (Hong Kong 1949-64), Li Choh-ming KBE (Chinese University of Hong Kong 1963-78), Henry Hu (Hong Kong Shue Yan 2007-ff), Way Kuo (City 2008-23).