On 7 February 2013, the
Hong Kong Football Association stated that the new Premier League would get under way in Autumn 2014, where it was suggested that the 2013–14 season would be a transition year. As a result, the
2013–14 Hong Kong First Division League was the last season of the First Division to be the top tier of football in the Hong Kong league system. The clubs already in the top division initially reacted negatively to the perceived increased running costs of competing in a professional league, particularly one where some felt that there was little difference to the old First Division. Five clubs –
Citizen,
Southern,
Sun Hei,
Happy Valley and
Tuen Mun all eventually decided against joining the new league, which led to fears that the
HKFA's plan to start the league with a minimum of 8 teams would not be possible. In the end, however, through public funding and government support, two teams from the
Hong Kong Second Division were able to meet the new league licence requirements and were promoted, making a total of 9 teams for the first season. With the recent completion of 'Project Phoenix' which started in 2011, the league has seen some improvements with further amendments planned for the future. This includes a new five-year funding agreement, a new licensing scheme for league member clubs, prize money for all participating teams and new measures put in place against corruption and match-fixing.
Kitchee were crowned as champions of the inaugural season, after amassing a total of 36 points in the league with only 2 losses.
Tai Po finished bottom of the league with only 7 points. The following season,
Eastern won the league with a game to spare, winning their first top flight championship in 20 years. They also created history, as they were the first team in the world to win a top flight men's title whilst being managed by a female coach.
Wong Tai Sin were relegated after finishing last in the league. In the 2016–17 season, Kitchee reclaimed the title on the final day of the season in a showdown with rivals Eastern, a game which they won 4–1. Eastern later won the End-of-Season playoffs and will therefore also compete along with Kitchee in the
2018 AFC Champions League.
HKFC finished bottom of the table, and were thus automatically relegated to the
First Division.
Kitchee successfully defended their title in the 2017–18 season, becoming the first club to repeat as champions the following year. In the 2018–19 season,
Tai Po won the league, becoming the first district team to win a top flight title since
Yuen Long in
1962–63. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021–22 season was curtailed and ultimately cancelled, with the championship withheld: this was the first time a top flight league season had been cancelled since the Second World War. Since 2022–23 season, the Premier League Committee was established. The committee focuses on promoting the Hong Kong Premier League in the market and seeking commercial sponsorships, and achieving box office revenue sharing. In the 2023–24 season, the
video assistant referee (VAR) review system was introduced.
Lee Man won the league with a game to spare, winning their first ever top flight championship. ==Format==