Halls of residence form part of the proud tradition of the University. They are part of the education system rather than just a provision of accommodation. As hall members have to learn to be independent and interact closely with students of different backgrounds under the same roof, halls are a very effective means to integrate students' social and intellectual lives, and therefore offer a golden opportunity for whole-person education.

The importance of hall education is acknowledged both by the Government and the University. Last year, the Consultation Document on the Aims of Education listed "enhancing residential experiences", "enhancing the cultural dimensions in hall lives", and "re-designing the living environments in students' halls of residence" as strategies to train leadership skills and promote the physical and cultural capacities of the undergraduates.

Halls of HKU are devoted to the development of their members. Hall members are encouraged to take full advantage of such a precious opportunity to actively participate in various hall activities so as to develop their personal abilities (e.g. leadership skills), personality, communication and social skills, as well as intellectual ability. Halls of HKU are known for their strong hall spirit. Each hall has its own tradition, culture, and unique characteristics and members identify very strongly with their halls. Through developing a sense of belonging and commitment to the hall, students will also develop a similar sense of commitment to the society.

There are at present sixteen Halls, three non-residential and thirteen residential, eleven of which are directly administered by the University and two are financially and administratively independent. Each hall has either a Manager or a Steward to assist the Warden in the administration of the Hall.

Non-residential students may also apply to become affiliated members of most of the residential halls.