Nine men have been Bishop of Hong Kong; another six were heads of its antecedent jurisdictions. Four bishops –
John Baptist Wu,
Joseph Zen,
John Tong Hon, and Chow – were elevated to the
College of Cardinals.[9]Francis Hsu, the ninth ordinary of the diocese, was the first
ethnically Chinese bishop of Hong Kong.[10] Tong, whose
episcopacy spanned from 2009 to 2017, was the first bishop born in Hong Kong.[11] Wu had the longest tenure as Bishop of Hong Kong, serving for 27 years from 1975 to 2002, while his immediate predecessor
Peter Lei held the position for seven months (1973–1974), marking the shortest episcopacy.[12]
Coadjutor bishop[E] from 1949 to 1951. Installed on 26 October 1952, after his release from prison in
mainland China.[D] Resigned on 30 November 1968. Died on 14 February 1983.
Coadjutor bishop from 1996 to 2002. Elevated to cardinal on 24 March 2006. Retired on 15 April 2009, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Auxiliary bishop from 1996 to 2008. Coadjutor bishop from 2008 to 2009. First bishop born in Hong Kong. Elevated to cardinal on 18 February 2012. Retired on 1 August 2017, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Apostolic administrator from 2019 to 2021 following the death of his successor,
Michael Yeung.
^
abBetween Joset's death and Feliciani's appointment, the latter served as pro-Apostolic Prefect from 1842 until 1847,[14] followed by Bishop
Théodore-Augustin Forcade, MEP (1847–50).[15]
^
abBetween Ambrosi's death and Raimondi's appointment, the latter served as pro-Apostolic Prefect.[17]
^
abBetween Valtorta's death and Bianchi's installation, Fr.
Antonius Riganti, PIME served as vicar capitular.[24]
^Under the
Code of Canon Law, the
coadjutor bishop has the right of succession (cum jure successionis) upon the death, retirement or resignation of the diocesan bishop he is assisting.[25][26]
^
abBetween Hsu's death and Lei's appointment, the latter served as vicar capitular.[28]
^
abBetween Lei's death and Wu's consecration on 25 July 1975, Fr.
Gabriel Lam served as vicar capitular.[30]
"The Succession Line". Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
Specific
^
abHa, Louis (Winter 2016).
"Hong Kong and the Chinese Catholic Hierarchy". Tripod. 36 (183). Translated by Lam, Anthony. Hong Kong: Holy Spirit Study Centre. Archived from
the original on 8 September 2019. [W]hen the Chinese Catholic hierarchy came under attack on mainland China, although Hong Kong was a suffragan diocese of the Canton Archdiocese, it was not involved in those problems. Today, Hong Kong does not belong to any ecclesiastical province, nor to any Bishops' Conference. It is an entity belonging directly to the Holy See.
^Sainsbury, Michael (19 October 2018).
"Beijing targets Hong Kong media, is church next?". La Croix. Paris. Archived from
the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2020. [Hong Kong] is a de jure suffragan diocese under the Archdiocese of Guangzhou in South China but in practice it also reports to Rome.
^
ab"Religion and Custom". Hong Kong Yearbook 2003. Government of Hong Kong. 2003. Archived from
the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
^Van Hove, A. (1913).
"Bishop". In Charles George Herbermann (ed.). The Original Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. Robert Appleton Company. p. 581. Archived from
the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.