HONGKONG CHINESE NAMES
An article of interest appears in the St. Paul's College Magazine for April, under the caption of "Hongkong Localities", in which the writer, L.C.F., deals with the origin of the name of the Colony and the legendary names given to different districts.
"The name of the island, now applied to the whole Colony", says the writer, "is translated from the Chinese words Heung Kong, meaning 'Fragrant Stream.' Originally this island was barren and almost deserted. In the sixteenth century the Spanish sailors called it 'Ladrones,' the same name that they gave to the islands which still bear that name. Later 'the Red Harbour' was introduced, Hung Heung Loo To ('The Isle of the Red Incense Burner'), was the Chinese name. Then came the early nineteenth century, when the silk and tea trade were in full swing. Vessels of the East India Company trading between Canton and Europe often used Aberdeen as an anchorage and frequently replenished water supplies from the waterfall near Aberdeen, long noted for its purity. The name Kwan-tai-lo Chau was brought into use at that period. Kwan was presumably a pilot who directed ships into the harbour, and hence the name Island of Kwan, the pilot. Another explanation is that it means Skirt-String passage. This name was originally applied to the narrow ribbon-like Aberdeen (then known as Shek Pui Wan) passage. The position and name were entered on the charts.
"When Heung Kong was brought into use, European mariners mistook the name of the stream for that of the whole island. The Chinese characters for Hongkong were, however, translated 'Fragrant Stream,' the sound Heung being pronounced in 'boat people's' tone for the sound Hong, and the word Kong, a stream, being mistaken for the word Kwong, a seaport.
"Sai Ying Pun, or Western Camp, commemorates an incident about the year 1800, when the pirate Cheung Po established three camps or fortified positions on the island; the eastern at North Point, the central only a few paces below the Central Police Station.
Stanley, or Chek Chue, is said to have received its name after a sanguinary battle between pirates and fishermen in the bay; or at another time when a number of villagers were slaughtered by pirates on the rocky promontory below St. Stephen's College, but probably the name denotes the scarlet pillars of the temple on the outskirts of the village. It also earned an evil name in the early days for its terrible death rate. Wong Ma Kwok was once occupied by pirates.
"Repulse Bay, otherwise Chin Shui Wan, or Shallow Water Bay, was named in apposition to Shum Shui Wan, or Deep Water Bay, which bears its old name - a misnomer, for there is little difference in depth between the two.
"The native name for Victoria Peak was Tai Ping Shan Tan, or the Peak of the Mountain of Peace, which has been altered into Tse Ki Shan, Hoisted-flag mountain, but the modern name has little to commend it. Most of the mountains around have picturesque names; Tai Mo Shan, Big Cloud Mountain, or the Great Military Watch Mountain; Ma On Shan, Horse Saddle Mountain, and Tai Hang, the Big Gutter. The Paat Sin Range takes its name from the eight fairies of Chinese mythology, while Kau Lung, or Nine Dragons, is so called because of the nine ridges running out from Kowloon.
HONGKONG CHINESE NAMES
An article of interest appears in the St. Paul's College Magazine for April, under the caption of "Hongkong Localities", in which the writer, L.C.F., deals with the origin of the name of the Colony and the legendary names given to different
districts.
"The name of the island, now applied to the whole Colony says the writer, "is translated from the Chinese words Heung Kong, meaning "Fragrant Stream." Originally this island was barren and almost deserted. In the sixteenth century the Spanish sailors called it "Ladrones," the same name that they gave to the islands which still bear that name. Later "the Red Harbour" was introduced, Hung Heung Loo To ("The Isle of the Red Incense Burner"), was the Chinese name. Then came the early nineteenth century, when the silk and tea trade were in full swing. Vessels of the East India Company trading between Canton and Europe often used Aberdeen as an anchorage and frequently replenished water supplies from the waterfall near Aberdeen, long noted for its purity. The name Kwan-tai-lo Chau was brought into use at that period. Kwan was presumably a pilot who directed ships into the harbour, and hence the name Island of kwan, the pilot. Another explanation is that it means Skirt-String passage. This name was originally
pplied to the narrow ribbon-like Aberdeen (then known as Shek Pui Wan) passage. The position and name were entered
on the charts.
"When Heung Kong was brought into use, European marinere pr mistook the name of the stream for that of the whole island. The Chinese characters for Hongkong were, however, translated "Fragrant Stream," the sound Heung being pronounced in "boat... people's" tone for the sound Hong, and the word Kong, a stream, being mistaken for the word Kwong, a seaport.
"Sai Ying Pun, or Western Camp, commemorates an incident about the year 1800, when the pirate Cheung Po established three comps or fortified positions on the island; the eastern at S North Point, the central only a few paces below the Central Police
∙ation.
4
Stanley, or Chek Chue, is said to have received its name after a sanguinary battle between pirates and fishermen in the bay; or at another time when a number of villagers were slaughtered by pirates on the rocky promontory below St. Stephen's College, but probably the name denotes the scarlet pillars of the temple on the outskirts of the village. It also earned an evil name in the early days for its terrible Ceath rate. Wong Ma Kwok was once occupied by pirates.
"Repulse Bay, otherwise Chin Shui Wan, or Shallow Water Bay, was named in apposition to Shum Shui Wan, or Deep Water Bay, which bears its old name - a misnomer, for there is little difference in depth between the two.
"The native name for Victoria Peak was Tai Ping Shan Tan, or the Peak of the Mountain of Peace, which has been alt ergd into Tse Ki Shan, Hoisted-flag mountain, but the modern name has little to commend it. Most of the mountains around have picturesque names; Tai Mo Shan, Big Cloud Mountain, or the Great Military Watch Mountain; Ma On Shan, Horse Saddle Mountain,
nd Tai Hang, the Big Gutter. The Paat Sin Range takes its name from the eight fairies of Chinese mythology, while Kau Lung, or Mine Dragons, is so called because of the nine ridges running out from Kowloon.
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