Sha Tin

The original name for Sha Tin was Lek Yuen, which means “trickling source of clear water”. Allegedly, when British surveyors frst visited Sha Tin Wai (a village in the area), they asked what the area was called. The villagers answered Sha Tin and the British mistakenly recorded this as the name for the whole area, replacing Lek Yuen.

Shau Kei Wan

Shau Kei Wan means “rice basket bay” in Cantonese. The area closely resembles the shape of a rice basket in old photographs and on old maps. However, this is not the case today, as the coastline has been altered by reclamation. The original settlement pre-dates British arrival by centuries.

Shouson Hill

Located between Deepwater Bay and Aberdeen, Shouson Hill was named after Chow Shouson, a high-ranking offcial in China, before the 1911 revolution. He was an active businessman and politician in Hong Kong thereafter.

Stanley

The area was named after Lord Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies when Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain in 1860. During the reign of the Chia Ching Emperor in the late 18th century, the notorious local pirate Cheung Po-Tsai had a headquarters in the area. Cheung’s notoriety is still evident in the Tin Hau Temple at nearby Ma Hang.

Tsim Sha Tsui

Several villages were established here before Kowloon was ceded to the British in 1860. Tsim Sha Tsui means “sandy mouth” and was a place used in the exportation of incense trees. Thus, the area used to be known as Heung Po Tau, “the fragrant quay”. In 1888, the Star Ferry was built for transportation between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and the area has fourished ever since.

Tin Hau

Tin Hau, Queen of Heaven, is an ancient Chinese deity. She is venerated as the patron deity of the boat people in Hong Kong. The area takes its name from the Tin Hau Temple. All Tin Hau temples are meant to be located very close to the seashore – and this one used to be. The temple hasn’t moved, but the shoreline has by several hundred metres. A Tin Hau Temple, albeit smaller and less elaborate than the current version, stood on the site several decades before the British arrived in Hong Kong.

Upper Albert Road

Named after Queen Victoria’s Consort Prince Albert, it surrounds Government House, the residence of former Governors of Hong Kong and the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street)

“Lascars” were seamen from the East Indies who frequen reputation for lawlessness and criminal behaviour. In the if you had something stolen, you were almost certain to f In Cantonese slang, thieves are called rats, and the deale rats are cats. Thus, this street is also known as “Cat Stre

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