NOTES AND QUERIES
183
24TH MAY, 1969
VISIT TO OLD SHAU KEI WAN
The programme notes prepared for the visit are reproduced below.
Ed.
This visit is to an area soon to experience redevelopment. Within a few years, extensive reclamation and clearance of squatter structures will transform the district. Dirty and non-descript, nonetheless it has interesting relics and associations that are worthy of attention.
Shau Kei Wan, the name means "Rice Basket Bay", clearly so named because of its shape, is an old settlement probably dating back to centuries before the British occupation of Hong Kong Island in 1841. Its population was given as 1,200 persons in the first Hong Kong census of May, 1841. Then as now, the population were farmers, shopkeepers, and fishermen, scattered in various settlements round the shores of the bay, named by the British "Aldrich Bay" after a military engineer officer who served in Hong Kong in those first years.
Shau Kei Wan has for long been known locally as the 'Bay of Hungry Men'. Writing as long ago as 1858, the Rev. W. Lobscheid noted:
"This village is called by the natives Ngo-yan-wan (the harbour of the starving men). They relate that, about 150 years ago, a few junks were driven into this harbour by a hurricane. The weather continuing very rough for several days, and being in want of provisions, they went on shore in order to purchase some rice and other necessaries. But nothing could be obtained, and the unfortunate men had to leave almost in a starving condition. From that time, they called the place the harbour of the starving men', which appellation it bears up to this moment."
[From A Few Notices on the Extent of Chinese Education and the Government Schools of Hong Kong, etc. Hong Kong, Printed at the "China Mail" Office, MDCCCLIX p. 38.]
In another version of the same story, given in a Chinese publication in 1947, the name is ascribed to the fact that Shau Kei Wan was a base for lawless pirates, the "hungry people". This account said that because of the geographical advantages
NOTES AND QUERIES
183
24TH MAY, 1969
VISIT TO OLD SHAU KEI WAN
The programme notes prepared for the visit are reproduced below.
Ed.
This visit is to an area soon to experience redevelopment. Within a few years, extensive reclamation and clearance of squatter structures will transform the district. Dirty and non- descript, nonetheless it has interesting relics and associations that are worthy of attention.
T
Shau Kei Wan the name means "Rice Basket Bay", clearly so named because of its shape is an old settlement probably dating back to centuries before the British occupation of Hong Kong Island in 1841. Its population was given as 1,200 persons in the first Hong Kong census of May, 1841. Then as now, the population were farmers, shopkeepers and fishermen, scattered in various settlements round the shores of the bay, named by the British "Aldrich Bay" after a military engineer officer who served in Hong Kong in those first years.
Shau Kei Wan has for long been known locally as the 'Bay of Hungry Men'. Writing as long ago as 1858, the Rev. W. Lobscheid noted:
"This village is called by the natives Ngo-yan-wan (the harbour of the starving men). They relate that, about 150 years ago, a few junks were driven into this harbour by a hurricane. The weather continuing very rough for several days, and being in want of provisions, they went on shore in order to purchase some rice and other necessaries. But nothing could be obtained, and the unfortunate men had to leave almost in a starving condition. From that time, they called the place the harbour of the starving men', which appellation it bears up to this moment.'
**
[From A Few Notices on the Extent of Chinese Education and the Government Schools of Hong Kong, etc. Hong Kong, Printed at the "China Mail" Office, MDCCCLIX p. 38.]
In another version of the same story, given in a Chinese publication in 1947, the name is ascribed to the fact that Shau Kei Wan was a base for lawless pirates, the "hungry people”. This account said that because of the geographical advantages
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.