Due to improved results in the 2016 AFC club rankings, Hong Kong received for the first time in history a direct group stage ticket for the Asian Champions League campaigns in 2017 and 2018.
In 2017 Eastern were knocked out in the group stages. In 2018 Premier League champions Kitchee will have a guaranteed spot in the ACL group stage, while season play-off winners Eastern will enter the tournament in the second qualifying round.
The qualifiers usually start at the end of January, while the group stages begin one month later.