STANLEY
In dealing with the military connexion with Hongkong one can find several interesting facts hidden away or barely indicated in references and documents, and some day we might have a full record of this aspect of local history. There is one part of the island which deserves mention in regard to both the military and malaria (see yesterday's article, 10-7-33), I refer to Stanley.
The place is now being developed for residential purposes, and there is already a school flourishing there - St. Stephen's College, which was moved out to Stanley a few years ago. The place, however, was once upon a time notorious for its malaria, and that it is now a healthy locality speaks volumes for the great advance of sanitary and medical knowledge.
It was at Stanley that one of the earliest settlements was made in Hongkong, and here the troops were lodged for a time, until the toll of malaria literally drove them away. And now I come to something original, what was the reason for the Chinese place name? The Stanley locality is called in the vernacular Chik chu, which is translated literally as "Red pillars." In referring to this in his admirable radio lecture on local Chinese place names in July last year, Mr. R.E. Lindsell commented that he had been quite unable to discover the significance of this name. It occurred to me at the time, and I repeat the suggestion for what it is worth, that the name may have originated through the former military garrison of the place.
The soldiers in those days wore the famous red tunics that had given rise to such expressions as "the thin red line" and one can easily visualise the sentries posted at Stanley, standing like red pillars, and arousing the well-known aptitude of the Chinese for fanciful allusions.
However, there is an objection to this when one considers the date of occupation of Hongkong, the earliest probable period of soldiers being stationed at Stanley, and the date of origin of the Chinese name, which certainly existed as early as 1844, and possibly goes back to a time long before the British advent. In which case my theory falls to the ground completely. Any contributions to this discussion by readers will be welcomed.
The official naming of Stanley, and also of Aberdeen, two well-known parts of the south side of the island, took place in 1845, and was announced by the Governor in Council. The original Chinese name of Aberdeen was Shukpai-wan. These places were called respectively after Lord Stanley, then Secretary of State, and the Earl of Aberdeen, at that time Foreign Secretary. The association of the fishing fleet with Aberdeen (Hongkong) is thus seen to be a mere coincidence, and the designation had nothing to do either with the fishing industry or Scottish associations as some residents nowadays may think.
Other means of commemorating these two Ministers were chosen in the naming of Stanley Street and Aberdeen Street, the latter, perhaps not so familiar to residents, being near Queen's College.
I am indebted to the following reader for a definite ruling on the Chinese name for Stanley:
STANLEY
In dealing with the military connexion with Hongkong one can find several interesting faots hidden away or barely indicated in references end documents, and some day we might have a full record of this aspect of local history. There is, one part of the island which deserves mention in regard to both the military and malaria (see yesterday's article, 10-7-33), I refer to Sten- løy.
The place is now being developed for residential purposes, and there is already a school flourishing there - St. Stephen's College, which was moved out to Stanley a few years ago. The place, however, wes once upon a time notorious for its malaria, and that it is now a healthy locality speaks volumes for the great advence of sanitery and medical knowledge.
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It was at Stanley that one of the earliest settlements was made in Hongkong, and here the troops were loosted for a time, until the toll of malaria literally drove them away. And now I come to something original, whet was the reason for the Chinese plece name? The Stanley locality is called in the vernacular Chik chu, which is translated literally as "Red pillers." In referring to this in his admirable radio lecture on local Chinese place names in July last year, Mr. R.E. Lindsell commented that he had been quite unable to discover the significance of this name It occurred to me at the time, and I repeat the suggestion for what it is worth, that the name may have originated through the. former military garrison of the place.
The soldiers in those days wore the famous red tunics that had given rise to such expressions as "the thin red line and one can easily visualise the sentries posted at Stanley,
· standing like red pillars, and arousing the well-known aptitude of the Chinese for fanciful allusions.
However, there is an objection to this when one considers the dete of occupation of Hongkong, the earliest probable period of soldiers being stationed at Stanley, and the date of origin of the Chinese name, which certainly existed as early as 1844, and possibly goes back to a time long before the British advent. In which case my theory falls to the ground completely. 'Any con- tributions to this discussion by readers will be welcomed.
The official naming of Stanley, and also of Aberdeen two well-known parts of the south side of the island, took place in 1845, and was announced by the Governor in Council. The original Chinese name of Aberdeen was Shukpai-wan. The se places were called respectively after Lord Stanley, then Secretary of State, and the Earl of Aberdeen, at that time Foreign Secretary. The association of the fishing fleet with Aberdeen (Hongkong) is thus seen to be a mere coincidence, and the designation had nothing to do either with the fishing industry or Scottish associations as some residents nowadays may think.
Other means of commemorating these two Ministers were chosen in the naming of Stanley Street and Aberdeen Street, the latter, perhaps not so familiar to residents, being near Queen's College.
I am indebted to the following reader for a definite ruling on the Chinese name for Stanley:
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