Hong Kong Regional Emblem (since 1997)

The current coat of arms came into use on 1 July, 1997, when Hong Kong was reverted to Chinese sovereignty. The emblem should now be referred to as the "Regional Emblem" as heraldry is not used in the People's Republic of China. The emblem replaced the colonial Hong Kong coat of arms.

The regional emblem features the same design elements as the regional flag of Hong Kong in a circular setting. The outer white ring is shown with the caption of the official name of the territory in traditional Chinese characters (as opposed to the simplified form): "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" and the short form in English, "Hong Kong".

Colonial Coat of Arms

Hong Kong Coat of Arms (1959-1997)

The arms had been in use in colonial Hong Kong since it was granted on 21st January 1959 and later adopted on the colonial flag in July that year. The use of the arms ended in 1997 where it has been replaced by the regional emblem. The coat of arms features a shield bearing two traditional Chinese junks facing each other. Inside the chief (red portion) is a naval crown in gold. The 'embattled' (castle-like) design separates the chief from the rest of the shield. The crest features a lion holding a pearl. The shield is supported by a lion and a dragon standing on a heraldric island bearing a banner written with "HONG KONG".

The two junks symbolise the importance of trade and the raison d'être of the colony. The naval crown and the embattled design commemorate the defence of Hong Kong during World War II. The pearl held in the crest personifies the familiar romanticised phrase "Pearl of the Orient" referring to Hong Kong. The lion and dragon supporters show the British and Chinese (local) cooperation in the development of Hong Kong. The island symbolises the beginning of the colony as an island and represents the maritime and hilly geography of Hong Kong.

The crest alone has been featured in Hong Kong coins before the introduction of the Bauhinia design in preparation of the 1997 Handover.

Colonial Badge

The colonial seal badge has been in used since 1843 in one version or another until it was replaced by the coat of arms granted in 1959. Despite under several revisions, the idea of the seal remained, depicting a local scene on the left foreground three local merchants and a pile of cargo on what appears to be a wharf. In the background are a square-rigged ship and a Chinese junk in the harbour backed by conical hills with a larger one to the left above the merchants.