Hong Kong had been identified early as a potential venue for Formula E, with the circuit touted as a candidate to host the series' inaugural race before ultimately joining the calendar in the championship's third season. The circuit made use of existing public roads in the Central Harbourfront district, routing cars past several of Hong Kong's most recognised landmarks.
The circuit measured 1.860 km in length and featured 10 turns. The route took cars past the International Finance Centre, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, and Hong Kong City Hall. The Harbourfront setting gave the event strong visual identity and made it one of the most photographed venues in Formula E history.
The circuit's surface presented particular technical challenges. Significant portions of the track were covered with painted road signs and markings, creating variable grip levels throughout the lap. Different tarmac surfaces and painted sections made parts of the track slippery, with some areas featuring adverse camber. Drainage was assisted by concrete blocks with holes integrated into the circuit boundary. Drivers noted that the painted road signs could make conditions extremely unpredictable under wet weather, with the potential for the circuit to become very treacherous in rain.
The circuit's length of 1.860 km fell below the FIA's minimum requirement of 2.2 km for Formula E venues. As additional teams were expected to join the championship for the 2019–20 season, the FIA required the circuit to be extended to meet the minimum length standard.
Extending the circuit proved difficult. An extension to the west was ruled out because the Hong Kong Station — connecting the district to the airport — sits directly adjacent to the western end of the circuit. An eastern extension through a tunnel was considered but rejected on safety grounds, as it would have required cars to enter a tunnel at high speed on a straight road with insufficient run-off. Unable to satisfy the FIA's extension requirement, the Hong Kong ePrix was dropped from the 2019–20 Formula E calendar.
Hong Kong's dense skyline — featuring over 350 skyscrapers along the harbourfront — created radio communication interference during the ePrix events. Multiple drivers reported problems receiving team communications during races, with the high-rise buildings blocking radio signals. This forced affected drivers to manage energy deployment and strategy unassisted by their engineering teams, adding an unusual technical dimension to the competitive challenge of racing in the city.
The Hong Kong ePrix ran three times: in the 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19 Formula E seasons. The 2019 edition was the 50th race in Formula E championship history since the series' launch in 2014. Prior to the race it was widely anticipated as the first wet race in Formula E history — practice and shakedown sessions took place on a fully wet circuit — but the race itself was held without rain.
Despite the event's popularity as a venue and its distinctive Harbourfront backdrop, the inability to extend the circuit within Hong Kong's constrained urban geography ultimately ended the race's place on the Formula E calendar.