The City of Victoria,
often called Victoria City or simply Victoria, was the ''
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
'' capital of
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
during
its time as a British dependent territory. It was initially named Queenstown but was soon known as Victoria. It was one of the first urban settlements in Hong Kong and its boundaries are recorded in the Laws of Hong Kong. All government bureaux and many key departments still have their head offices located within its limit.
Present-day
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
is at the heart of Victoria City. Although the city expanded over much of what is now
Kennedy Town,
Shek Tong Tsui
Shek Tong Tsui or Belcher Point is an area in Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it belongs to the Central and Western District.
This area is bounded north by the Victoria Harbour, south by Pok Fu Lam Road and Third ...
,
Lung Fu Shan
Lung Fu Shan or Hill Above Belcher's is a hill on the northwestern part of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, and an area on the northeastern slope of the hill where the main campus and centennial campus of the University of Hong Kong are located.
The ...
,
Sai Ying Pun
Sai Ying Pun is an area in Western District, on Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. It is administratively part of the Central and Western District.
Etymology
In Cantonese, ''Sai'' () means "west" and ''Ying Pun'' () means "camp", especially a ...
,
Sheung Wan,
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area n ...
,
Happy Valley, the
Mid-Levels,
East Point East Point is the name of several places:
In Australia
* East Point, Northern Territory
** East Point Military museum located in East Point, Northern Territory
In Canada
*East Point, Prince Edward Island
In Hong Kong:
*East Point, Hong Kong
In ...
and parts of
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is an area and a bay on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, straddling the border of the Eastern and the Wan Chai districts. It is a major shopping, leisure and cultural centre in Hong Kong, with a number of major shopping centres. Th ...
, the name ''Victoria'' has been eclipsed by ''Central'' in popular usage. However, the name is still used in places such as
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to:
Places Australia
* Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales
* Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse
* Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
,
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a hill on the western half of Hong Kong Island. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak only generally. With an elevation of , it is the highest hill on Hong Kong Island, ranked 29 in terms of elevation in H ...
,
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour in Hong Kong separating Hong Kong Island in the south from the Kowloon Peninsula to the north. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on South China Sea were instrumental in ...
,
Victoria Prison
Victoria Prison, was the first and longest-running prison to date in Hong Kong. It is located on Old Bailey Street in Central, Hong Kong Island. Named in honour of Queen Victoria, it was originally known as Victoria Gaol and was renamed in ...
, and
a number of roads and streets. It is also retained in the names of various organisations such as the Victoria City District of the
Hong Kong Scout, and the Victoria Junior Chamber. The name Victoria District Court had been used into the 1980s, when it was moved to the
Wanchai Tower
Wanchai Tower, located at 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, is home to the District Court and government offices. Neighbouring buildings include Immigration Tower, Revenue Tower and Shui On Centre.
History
The building sits on land re ...
and combined with other
district courts in the territory.
History
![THE PRAYA, HONG-KONG](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/THE_PRAYA%2C_HONG-KONG.jpg)
In 1857, the British government expanded the scope of Victoria City and divided it into four ''wans'' (). The four ''wans'' are ''Sai Wan'' ("West Ring" in Chinese, present-day
Sai Wan
Sai Wan, also known as Western district, or simply Western, is an area in Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong that corresponds to Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui, Belcher Bay and Kennedy Town. It formed part of the City of Victoria. West Point, a f ...
, including
Kennedy Town,
Shek Tong Tsui
Shek Tong Tsui or Belcher Point is an area in Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it belongs to the Central and Western District.
This area is bounded north by the Victoria Harbour, south by Pok Fu Lam Road and Third ...
, and
Sai Ying Pun
Sai Ying Pun is an area in Western District, on Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. It is administratively part of the Central and Western District.
Etymology
In Cantonese, ''Sai'' () means "west" and ''Ying Pun'' () means "camp", especially a ...
), ''Sheung Wan'' ("Upper Ring" in Chinese, present-day
Sheung Wan), ''Choong Wan'' or ''Chung Wan'' ("Central Ring" in Chinese, present-day
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
) and ''Ha Wan'' ("Lower Ring" in Chinese, present-day
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area n ...
). "Sai Wan", "Sheung Wan" and "Choong Wan" retain the same name in Chinese today.
The four ''wans'' are further divided into nine ''yeuks'' (, similar to "district" or "neighbourhood"). The coverage also included parts of
East Point East Point is the name of several places:
In Australia
* East Point, Northern Territory
** East Point Military museum located in East Point, Northern Territory
In Canada
*East Point, Prince Edward Island
In Hong Kong:
*East Point, Hong Kong
In ...
and
Happy Valley (West of Wong Nai Chung Road on the east side of
the racecourse
The Racecourse is an open area on the River Wear in Durham, England of total that has been used as a sports ground since at least 1733. It forms part of Durham University's sports facilities as well as hosting local sports clubs. The Raceco ...
). In 1903, boundary stones were established to mark the city's boundary and six of them are still preserved today. The stones spread from
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is an area and a bay on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, straddling the border of the Eastern and the Wan Chai districts. It is a major shopping, leisure and cultural centre in Hong Kong, with a number of major shopping centres. Th ...
to Kennedy Town.
In the 1890s, Victoria extended four miles west to east along the coastal strip. Buildings were made of
granite
Granite () is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies under ...
and brick. Buses and
the new tramway would become the main form of transportation in the area.
The city is centred in present-day Central, and named after
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
in 1843. It occupies the areas known in modern times as Central,
Admiralty
Admiralty most often refers to:
*Admiralty, Hong Kong
*Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964
*The rank of admiral
*Admiralty law
Admiralty can also refer to:
Buildings
* Admiralty, Traf ...
, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai,
East Point East Point is the name of several places:
In Australia
* East Point, Northern Territory
** East Point Military museum located in East Point, Northern Territory
In Canada
*East Point, Prince Edward Island
In Hong Kong:
*East Point, Hong Kong
In ...
, Shek Tong Tsui, the
Mid-levels,
the Peak, Happy Valley,
Tin Hau
Mazu or Matsu is a Chinese sea goddess also known by several other names and titles. She is the deified form of the legendary figure Lin Mo or Lin Moniang, a Fujianese shamaness whose life span is traditionally dated from 960 to 987. ...
, and Kennedy Town, on
Hong Kong Island.
Boundaries
![City Boundary 1903 - Old Peak Road](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/City_Boundary_1903_-_Old_Peak_Road.jpg)
The city boundaries are defined in the laws of Hong Kong as follows:
*On the north –
The Harbour;
*On the west – A line running due north and south drawn through the north-west angle of Inland Lot No. 1299 and extending southwards a distance of 850 feet from the aforesaid angle;
*On the south – A line running due east from the southern extremity of the western boundary until it meets a contour in the vicinity of the
Hill above Belchers 700 feet above principal datum, that is to say, a level 17.833 feet below the bench-mark known as "Rifleman's Bolt", the highest point of a copper bolt set horizontally in the east wall of the Royal Navy Office and Mess Block Naval Dockyard, and thence following the said contour until it meets the eastern boundary;
*On the east – A line following the west side of the Government Pier, Bay View and thence along the west side of , then along the north side of Causeway Road to . Thence along the west side of Moreton Terrace to the south-east corner of Inland Lot No. 1580 and produced in a straight line for 80 feet, and thence along the north side of Cotton Path and produced until it meets the west side of
Wong Nei Chong Road on the east side of
Wong Nei Chong Valley and thence to the south-east angle of Inland Lot No. 1364, produced until it meets the southern boundary.
In 1903, the Hong Kong Government erected several boundary stones for the city, inscribed "City Boundary 1903" at locations including
Hatton Road
Hatton Road (), also known as "The Morning Trail", is a paved, steep, motor vehicle-free road in western Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, on Lung Fu Shan. It is largely used as a fitness trail for walking, running, and cycling.
Description
The roa ...
,
Pok Fu Lam Road
Pok Fu Lam Road, or Pokfulam Road, is a four-lane road in Hong Kong. Built on Hong Kong Island, the road runs between Sai Ying Pun and Wah Fu, through Pok Fu Lam.
Description
It runs south from Sai Ying Pun, passing The University of Hong Ko ...
,
Bowen Road
Bowen Road () is a road from the Mid-Levels to Wong Nai Chung Gap of Hong Kong Island, on the slope above Central, Wan Chai and Happy Valley in Hong Kong. Bowen Road starts from Magazine Gap Road near the rail of Peak Tram and ends at the jun ...
, Old Peak Road (),
Wong Nai Chung Road
Wong Nai Chung Road ( Chinese: 黃泥涌道) is a major road in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. It is a U-shaped road that encircles the southern and eastern sides of the Happy Valley Racecourse.
Location
Wong Nai Chung Road starts northeast at the j ...
,
Victoria Road/Sai Ning Street () and
Magazine Gap Road
Magazine Gap Road is a winding road on the affluent and ultra-expensive Mid-Levels and the Peak on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is one of the main access leading to the Peak area.
Description
It starts low from Robinson Road and ...
. The one in Magazine Gap Road disappeared around mid-June 2007. Three additional boundary stones were rediscovered in 2021.
Districts
Also called ''yeuks''.
*
Kennedy Town, Hong Kong
Kennedy Town is at the western end of Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It was named after Arthur Edward Kennedy, the 7th Governor of Hong Kong from 1872 to 1877. Administratively, it is part of Central and Western District.
Due to its ...
*
Shektongtsui
*
Sai Ying Poon
Sai Ying Pun is an area in Western District, on Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. It is administratively part of the Central and Western District.
Etymology
In Cantonese, ''Sai'' () means "west" and ''Ying Pun'' () means "camp", especially a ...
*Taipingshan – a neighborhood near Sheung Wan that shared its name with
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a hill on the western half of Hong Kong Island. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak only generally. With an elevation of , it is the highest hill on Hong Kong Island, ranked 29 in terms of elevation in H ...
*
Sheung Wan
*Choong Wan (known in modern times as
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
in English)
*Ha Wan (today's
Admiralty
Admiralty most often refers to:
*Admiralty, Hong Kong
*Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964
*The rank of admiral
*Admiralty law
Admiralty can also refer to:
Buildings
* Admiralty, Traf ...
)
*
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area n ...
*
Bowrington (between today's
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area n ...
and
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is an area and a bay on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, straddling the border of the Eastern and the Wan Chai districts. It is a major shopping, leisure and cultural centre in Hong Kong, with a number of major shopping centres. Th ...
; known also as Ngo Keng)
*
Soo Kun Po
*
Happy Valley
*
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is an area and a bay on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, straddling the border of the Eastern and the Wan Chai districts. It is a major shopping, leisure and cultural centre in Hong Kong, with a number of major shopping centres. Th ...
See also
*
History of Hong Kong
The region of Hong Kong has been inhabited since the Old Stone Age, later becoming part of the Chinese Empire with its loose incorporation into the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC). Starting out as a farming fishing village and salt production site, ...
*
List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
The following is a list of areashttp://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/MusicOffice/download/imts18.pdf of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Island
* Central and Western District
** Central District
*** Admiralty
**Mid-Levels
***Soho
**Sai Wan
***Kenned ...
*
List of places named for Queen Victoria § Hong Kong, for a list of places named after Queen Victoria
*
Praya
Praya () was a term used in Colonial Hong Kong to refer to a promenade by the waterfront. The name comes from the Portuguese word ''praia'', which means "beach," but in China it came to mean a stone-faced waterfront road. In Hong Kong, it was ...
References
External links
Boundary of the City of Victoria as defined in Hong Kong Laws Cap 1 SCHED 1 of Hong Kong Law
Article on history of Hong KongPhotos of the 1903 boundary stonesA article on the "four wans and nine yeuks" in Chinese(
Adobe
Adobe ( ; ) is a building material made from earth and organic materials. is Spanish for ''mudbrick''. In some English-speaking regions of Spanish heritage, such as the Southwestern United States, the term is used to refer to any kind of e ...
PDF format)
Another article on "four wans and nine yeuks"A photographic panorama of the water-front and city of Victoria taken sometime after 1906, in
Cambridge Digital Library
The Cambridge Digital Library is a project operated by the Cambridge University Library designed to make items from the unique and distinctive collections of Cambridge University Library available online. The project was initially funded by a donat ...
{{Coord, 22, 16, 42, N, 114, 10, 28, E, region:CN-91_type:city(1063646)_source:dewiki, display=title
Central, Hong Kong
Central and Western District, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island
Populated coastal places in Hong Kong
Populated places established in 1842
1842 establishments in Hong Kong
Populated places in Hong Kong