The Authority Council comprises 17 members selected from the school sector, tertiary institutions, government bodies and persons experienced in commerce, industry or a profession in Hong Kong.

Aside from the ex officio affiliates, all members are allotted by the chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

The HKEAA imports some languages examinations from Cambridge into the HKCEE and will continue to do so after the introduction of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE).

There are numerous controversies, particularly after 2004, raised regarding the questions on Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.

State media such as Ta Kung Pao, Wen Wei Po and Global Times slammed the staffers of HKEAA unfit for setting examination questions.