St. John’s College is an Anglican college affiliated to the University of Hong Kong, which provides accommodation to undergraduates and postgraduates. As the successor of St. John’s Hall, which was founded in 1912, the College is the oldest residential hall/college of the University. Constitutionally, the College is a body corporate established by statute, the St. John’s College Ordinance (Chapter 1089, Laws of Hong Kong), on 27 April 1956. As such, unlike other residential halls/colleges that are directly administered by the University, the College enjoys financial and administrative independence. The Ricci Hall, run by the Jesuits, is the only other non-University-administered hall.
The aims of the College, as specified in the Preamble of the St. John’s College Ordinance, are "the pursuit of virtue and sound learning with faith in God and within the order of the Anglican Communion; and to this end to provide accommodation for teachers and students of all races where they may live, study and worship together; and to promote extramural activities in Christian learning and service, that the members of the College may the better understand and fulfil their duty to God and their neighbours".The College situates on Pokfulam Road to the south-west of the University Main Campus and directly opposite to the Flora Ho Sports Centre. It has its own dining hall, a bar with billiards table, a library, a chapel and a student common room. It has a student body of 223 undergraduates and 111 postgraduates, all provided with single rooms. Residents refer to the College as "St. John's" and to themselves as "St. Johnians" (respectively "聖莊" and "莊民" in Cantonese).