Photofragment Doppler spectroscopy has been used to characterize the electronically excited states of HOCl in the ultraviolet region. In the photolysis of HOCl, the Doppler profile of the nascent OH fragments shows a marked difference in the recoil anisotropy parameters : beta = 1.31 +/- 0.12 at 266 nm and -0.70 +/- 0.12 at 355 nm. Photoabsorption at 266 nm is characterized by the transition moment predominantly parallel to the O-Cl axis, which is consistent with assignment of the strong band at 250 nm to the 2(1)A＇-1(1)A＇ transition. On the other hand, the transition moment at 355 nm is perpendicular to the O-Cl-bond. The measurement of the rotational alignment also shows the transition moment to be perpendicular to the molecular plane at 355 nm, indicating the existence of the 1(1)A " <-- 1(1)A＇ transition above 300 nm.