Updated at 6.29pm: Equal Opportunities Commission chairwoman Patricia Chu Yeung Pak-yu would not serve another term after her first term ends on Wednesday, the government announced on Monday.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, it said Mrs Chu 'has declined the government's offer of re-appointment for personal reasons'.
A government spokesman said: 'We respect Mrs Chu's decision and are grateful to her for her dedication and contribution to the work of the EOC in the past year. We look forward to her continuous support in promoting equal opportunities and equality in Hong Kong.'
He said the government would announce the appointment of new chairman as soon as possible.
Mrs Chu, 58, was the deputy director of the Social Welfare Department before she retired in 2002.
Last December she was appointed as Equal Opportunities Commission chairwoman. This was after Michael Wong Kin-chow resigned amid controversy over his sacking of operations director Patrick Yu Chung-yin.