Intrinsic kinetics of HCl oxidation over a Cu/Ce composite oxide catalyst have been studied using an integral tubular reactor. The kinetic data were measured after elimination of the influence of external and internal diffusion at 390-420 degrees C, with n(HCl)/n(O2) ranging from 1 to 4 and W/F-A0 ranging from 50 to 350 g.min/mol under an atmospheric pressure. The empirical intrinsic kinetic model assuming the surface reaction as the rate-controlling step has been established. The kinetic parameters were estimated by the Levenberg-Marquardt method. The predicted results agree well with the experimental data. The activation energy over a Cu/Ce composite oxide catalyst is 82.10 kJ/mol. This kinetic model has laid an important foundation for reactor designation and optimization.