In May 1953, Hong Kong (China), formerly Hong Kong SAR, China, was assigned to the Western Pacific Region at the Sixth World Health Assembly ''without prejudice to any questions regarding its sovereignty'' as an area. It was under the British administration until 30 June 1997. From the fortieth session of the Regional Committee in 1989 to the forty-seventh in 1996, Hong Kong attended sessions of the Regional Committee under its own name. With effect from the forty-eighth session in 1997, Hong Kong has attended the Regional Committee as Hong Kong SAR (China).

The Regional Office was placed temporarily in Hong Kong (China) from August 1950 to July 1951.

Hong Kong (China) was covered by the WHO Representative Office in Taipei, China (Taiwan) from 1959 until it was closed on 30 June 1972. In 1972, the responsibility over Hong Kong was transferred to the Western Pacific Regional Office under the Office of the Director, Programme Management.