title: 1996–97 Hong Kong First Division League
text: # 1996–97 Hong Kong First Division League
  
  The 1996–97 Hong Kong First Division League season was the 86th since its establishment. The season began on 7 September 1996 and ended on 8 June 1997.
  
  ## First stage
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Instant-Dict (G) | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 9 | +27 | 31 |
  | 2 | South China | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 16 | +16 | 31 |
  | 3 | Uhlsport Rangers | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 18 | −6 | 15 |
  | 4 | Golden | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 30 | −10 | 15 |
  | 5 | Sing Tao | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 14 |
  | 6 | Happy Valley | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 11 |
  | 7 | Eastern (R) | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 33 | −23 | 5 |
  
  ## Second stage
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | South China (G) | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 9 | +24 | 30 |
  | 2 | Instant-Dict | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 5 | +21 | 29 |
  | 3 | Golden | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 20 |
  | 4 | Happy Valley | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 15 |
  | 5 | Sing Tao | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 19 | −3 | 12 |
  | 6 | Uhlsport Rangers | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 33 | −21 | 8 |
  | 7 | Eastern (R) | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 27 | −17 | 4 |
  
  ## Final
  
  * First Division League 1996–97 winners
  * South China 35th title
  