Hong Kong Football Club was founded in 1886 by Sir James Haldane Lockhart, following a meeting that was held at the Victoria Recreation Gymnasium on 12 February 1886.

But in 1995, as part of a redevelopment of the racecourse, the club moved into a brand new, 64,000 square metre, purpose-built home, with the main building being outside the race track, and the main pitch, all weather hockey pitch, bowling green and sports bar being inside the racetrack.

HKFC promotes a total of 11 sports, including rugby, soccer, squash, tennis, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, crickets, golf, sailing and rowing.

Rugby was the first sport to be played by the club, with a game held on 16 February 1886 between civilians and the British Army garrison, then stationed in Hong Kong.

That game was played on a pitch within the Happy Valley racetrack on Hong Kong Island where the club is still located today.