In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and commander-in-chief of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong.
The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions.
Authorities and duties of the governor were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions in 1843.
Initially, both councils were dominated by British expatriates, but this progressively gave way to local Hong Kong Chinese appointees in later years.
One Royal Navy Vice Admiral served as administrator after World War II.