| Aberdeen, Hong Kong | |||||||||||||
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 The view of Aberdeen Harbour fromAp Lei Chau Bridge | |||||||||||||
| Chinese | 香港仔 | ||||||||||||
| CantoneseYale | Hēunggóngjái | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | LittleHong Kong | ||||||||||||
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Aberdeen (/ˌæbərˈdiːn/ ⓘAB-ər-DEEN; Chinese: 香港仔;lit. 'Little Hong Kong') is an area on southwestHong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of theSouthern District. While the name "Aberdeen" could be taken in a broad sense to encompass the areas of Aberdeen (town),Wong Chuk Hang,Ap Lei Chau,Tin Wan,Wah Kwai Estate andWah Fu Estate, it is more often used to refer to the town only. According to the population census conducted in 2011, the total population of the Aberdeen area is approximately 80,000.
Aberdeen is famous not only to tourists but also to Hong Kong locals for itsfloating village and floating seafood restaurants located in the Aberdeen Harbour. TheTanka people, who used to live on boats in the Aberdeen Harbour, are generally associated with the fishing industry, and there are still several dozens of them living on boats in the harbour.
This town is named in memory ofGeorge Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, formerPrime Minister of the United Kingdom (1852–1855) and formerSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1841–1846). The statesman's title referred toAberdeen in Scotland. Hong Kong's "Aberdeen" is also the name of a harbour and a housing estate:
Starting from theMing Dynasty, "Hong Kong" became the original name for the presently-named Aberdeen village.[1] In the early 19th century, foreigners who landed near Aberdeen Village mistook the name of the village "Hong Kong" for the whole island.[2] When the foreigners eventually realized their mistake, the name "Hong Kong" was already commonly used to refer to the entire island.[1]
In Cantonese, Aberdeen is known indigenously asHong Kong Tsai which means "Hong Kong Minor", "Son of Hong Kong" or "Little Hong Kong". It is believed that Aberdeen is where the name of Hong Kong (more accurately transcribed asHeung Kong) originates.Heung Kong Tsuen (香港村, "Hong Kong village") on Ap Lei Chau was mentioned onMing-era maps. Another walled village calledHeung Kong Wai in Wong Chuk Hang was also founded during theQianlong era of theQing Dynasty.Hong Kong means "fragrant harbour", and it was Aberdeen where incense trees (Aquilaria sinensis) from theNew Territories used to be brought for export to other cities inChina. One alternative Chinese name wasShek Pai Wan[3] (石排灣).
At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Aberdeen Town was 1,314. The number of males was 951.[4]
In theSecond World War, during theJapanese occupation of Hong Kong (1941–1945), the Chinese name of Aberdeen,Hong Kong Tsai, was transformed into Japanese asMoto Hong Kong (元香港), meaning "The Origin of Hong Kong".
The Aberdeen Kai-Fong Association (abbreviated "AKA";Chinese:香港仔街坊福利會, literally means "Aberdeen Neighbours Association"), located at 180B Aberdeen Main Road, provides outreach and elderly services throughout the Southern District. It provides teenager services through the Harmony Life Enrichment Centre.[5] It also aims to bridge the divide between teenagers and the elderly in the district through the Linkages Centre, located in Carpark Block, Shek Pai Wan Estate.[6]
TheTung Wah Group of Hospitals organisation has a total of four social enterprises in Aberdeen; one of them is Cookeasy,[7] which is a project in collaboration with theTowngas company, creating job opportunities for the disabled and promoting healthydiet culture.[8]
Aberdeen is one of the 19 constituencies of theSouthern District Council. Each constituency has one elected council member in the Southern District Council. As of 2018[update], the council member representing the area of Aberdeen is Pauline Yam.[9]
Moored in the harbour between Wong Chuk Hang andAp Lei Chau, theJumbo Floating Restaurant was a popular tourist spot. Designed to resemble a floating palace of imperial China, it had attracted over 30 million visitors since it opened in 1976. The restaurant closed in 2020 and capsized in 2022 after leaving Hong Kong.
The family-run Shan Loon Tse Kee Fish Balls Restaurant (山窿謝記) servedChiuchow-stylefish ball with soup noodles for 65 years until it closed on 31 March 2012 due to rising fish prices and staffing problems.[10] The Tse Kee Restaurant served famous guests such asChristopher Patten, formerGovernor of Hong Kong (1992-1997);Donald Tsang, formerChief Executive of Hong Kong (Head of the Government) (2005-2012);Henry Tang, formerChief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong (2007-2011);Tony Leung, a famous actor;Chua Lam, a well-known food critic; andEason Chan, a celebrated singer. Tse Kee Restaurant helped make "Aberdeen Fish Balls Noodles Culture" (香港仔魚蛋粉) well-known.
SixJau Laus (Cantonese restaurants,酒樓) are located in the neighborhood of Aberdeen. The noodles restaurants group Nam Kee (南記) started in Aberdeen in the early 1980s, promoting the "Aberdeen Fish Balls Noodles Culture" (香港仔魚蛋粉). The Nam Kee has two restaurants in Aberdeen, along with thirteen others in Hong Kong. There are several other Chinese noodles restaurants and various other restaurants located in Aberdeen Centre as well.
During theTuen Ng Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, Aberdeen Harbour becomes the venue of thedragon boat race in the Southern District. District authorities also hold similar races on Duanwu Festival Day in harbours or rivers of their districts. Although the Aberdeen Harbour race is not as famous as theShing Mun River race, it still attracts many tourists and locals every year.
The Southern District Tourism and Culture Festival,[11] held by the Southern District Council, organizes races in the Aberdeen Promenade, tours of Aberdeen town, and the Mid-Autumn Fire Dragon Festival in the Aberdeen area every year.
Aberdeen Square, located in Aberdeen Centre, is a frequent venue for local organisations' events, including fairs, promotion events and charity events. The square is sometimes used by theSouthern District Council to hold fairs and evening concerts during festivals such as theChinese New Year andChristmas.
Aberdeen Promenade, located right next to Aberdeen Harbour on the Aberdeen town side, as well as theAp Lei Chau Bridge andAberdeen Channel Bridge, are famous places for tourists to take photographs of Aberdeen Harbour. The two areas attract many tourists.
The route of Big Bus Tours Hong Kong[12] includes Aberdeen Praya Road, where tourists can take photographs of Aberdeen Harbour on open-top buses.
Sampans (junks) can be hired by tourists for a tour of Aberdeen Harbour.
Aberdeen attracts many tourists as it is in the vicinity ofOcean Park, also located in the Southern District, near the Aberdeen Sports Ground, which is the other famous theme park apart fromHong Kong Disneyland.
Mojo Nomad Aberdeen is located at 100 Shek Pai Wan Road, and has 52 rooms.[13] The L'hotel Island South, at 55Wong Chuk Hang Road, is located near the popularOcean Park.[14]
Grantham Hospital, located at 125 Wong Chuk Hang Road, has been serving the citizens of the Southern District for more than half a century along withQueen Mary Hospital (also located near Aberdeen). Grantham Hospital specializes in comprehensive medical treatment for adult heart and lung diseases, as well as acute geriatrics and palliative medicine services.[15]Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, a private hospital at 1 Nam Fung Path, opened in 2017.[16]
The head office ofWen Wei Po is in the Hing Wai Centre (興偉中心) in Aberdeen.[17]
Canadian International School of Hong Kong,Singapore International School andVictoria Shanghai Academy are all located onNam Long Shan. Both Canadian International School and Victoria Shanghai Academy are International Baccalaureate World Schools, and run all three educational programs of the IB. The International Montessori School[18] is located on Ap Lei Chau near Aberdeen.South Island School is located nearby on Hong Kong Island.
Local Chinese high schools in Aberdeen district includePui Tak Canossian College,[19]St. Peter's Secondary School [zh] in Aberdeen Centre,[20]Aberdeen Technical School [zh] in Wong Chuk Hang[21] andAberdeen Baptist Lui Ming Choi College in Ap Lei Chau.[22]
Aberdeen is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 18. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and Hong Kong Southern District Government Primary School (香港南區官立小學).[23]
Hong Kong Public Library operates the Aberdeen Public Library in the Aberdeen Municipal Services Building.[24]
To arrive at Aberdeen or Aberdeen Harbour, travellers can take buses 4, 7, 37A, 37B, 37X, 38, 40P, 41A, 42, 42C, 48, 70, 70P, 71, 71P, 72, 73, 73P, 77, 77X, 78, 91, 91A, 93, 93A, 93C, 94A, 95C, 98, 107, 107P, 170, 595, 970X, 971, 973, A10, N72 or N170, and alight at the bus stop "Aberdeen Promenade, Aberdeen Praya Road". This bus stop is located directly beside Aberdeen Harbour.
Aberdeen is served byPok Fu Lam Road,Aberdeen Tunnel andNam Fung Road throughWong Chuk Hang.Nam Fung Road connectsDeep Water Bay Road, which also connectsWong Nai Chung Gap Road toHappy Valley. A bridge calledAp Lei Chau Bridge links Aberdeen withAp Lei Chau over Aberdeen Harbour.
Aberdeen station, of the proposedSouth Island line West Section of theMTR will be in Aberdeen. Currently the closest station isWong Chuk Hang on theSouth Island line, where feeder bus and minibus routes to Aberdeen are available.
Rail passengers may also reach Aberdeen by usingkai-to ferry fromMain Street, Ap Lei Chau nearLei Tung station (Exit A1). In addition to the Ap Lei Chau route, regular ferries also depart from Aberdeen toYung Shue Wan andSok Kwu Wan onLamma Island, andPo Toi Island.
Transport to and from the boats in the harbour is usually provided bysampans. These can also be hired to Lamma Island.
Aberdeen Sports Ground is a major sports and events venue in theSouthern District. It is usually an annual School Sports Day venue for many local primary and secondary schools in the Southern District.[25] It is also the usual venue of the30-Hour Famine held byWorld Vision Hong Kong. The Aberdeen Sports Ground is the home ground of the district's football team,Southern District RSA.
The Aberdeen Sports Centre is located on the 5/F and 6/F of the Aberdeen Municipal Services Building, No. 203 Aberdeen Main Road. The Aberdeen Sports Centre includes a multi-purpose arena, which can be converted into one basketball court or one volleyball court or four badminton courts. There is also a squash court, which can be converted into a table tennis room or a multi-purpose activity room.[26]
The Aberdeen Tennis and Squash Centre is located at No. 1 Aberdeen Praya Road, next to the Ocean Court Building. The Aberdeen Tennis and Squash Centre includes 8 tennis courts and six squash courts, which can be converted into table tennis rooms or multi-purpose activity rooms, two American pool rooms, a fitness room, a fee-paying car park, and a first-aid room.[27]Unlike private clubs, the facilities at the Aberdeen Sports Centre and the Aberdeen Tennis and Squash Centre can be reserved by Hong Kong Identity Card holders, locals or foreigners. The price is usually less than HKD $100.
The Aberdeen Sports Ground is open to the public free of charge whenever theSouthern District RSA football team is not undergoing training.
Aberdeen Country Park (香港仔郊野公園), commonly known by locals as "Aberdeen Reservoir Park" (香港仔水塘公園), is surrounded by the Aberdeen Reservoirs (upper reservoir and lower reservoir). It is a popular spot for local citizens to have barbecue meals as well as a frequent spot for local social organisations and churches to hold group activities. It is also the usual venue of the annual Fall Picnic Day held by primary and secondary schools in the neighborhood.
TheAberdeen Promenade (on the Aberdeen side) and theAp Lei Chau Wind Tower Park [zh] (on the Ap Lei Chau side), located at both sides of the Aberdeen Harbour, are popular spots where local citizens jog and exercise. The two spots are more frequently used between 7 pm and 11 pm, as citizens exercise after work.
TheAberdeen Marina Club [zh], located in Wong Chuk Hang (an area inside Aberdeen), provides ice hockey, ice skating, yoga, Tai Chi, swimming, Judo and other experiences for members.
In 1973, the Hollywood martial arts filmEnter the Dragon, starringBruce Lee, used Aberdeen Harbour as a filming location for the scenes where the principal characters assemble on Han's junk for the sea journey to his island.
In 1987, Aberdeen harbour appears in multiple shots in theTV miniseries ofJames Clavell's Novel, "The Noble House", starringPierce Brosnan. Brosnan's character travels to and meets with a Chinese triad leader, "Four Finger Wu" on his junk in the harbour. The two discuss kidnappings, lines of credit, and call ancient favours and debts.
In 1991, the American action filmDouble Impact, starringJean-Claude Van Damme, includes an escape scene that was shot on the fishing vessels in Aberdeen Harbour, in which Van Damme swims to another fishing vessel in Aberdeen Harbour and ultimately escapes.
In 1996, the Hong Kong comedy movieThe God of Cookery starredSteven Chow as the "Former God of Cookery" competing withVincent Kok as the "New God of Cookery" on the Tai Pak floating restaurant, located in the Aberdeen Harbour.
Aberdeen Harbour is featured as the first area of theDreamcast andXbox video gameShenmue II. The "Aberdeen" depicted in the game differs radically in appearance from its real-life counterpart, being dominated architecturally by low-rise freight storage facilities and colonial-looking neo-historical architecture; this fictional version also faces an urban landscape slightly reminiscent of Hong Kong Island's north shore, an impossible arrangement due to Aberdeen being situated south of this area, behind a mountain range. The series'anime adaptation depicts Aberdeen similarly.
In 2003, the Hollywood movieLara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life showedAngelina Jolie (Lara) in the Aberdeen Harbour on a floating houseboat using the Chinese family's satellite to communicate. This was mirrored to some extent in the 2018 rebootTomb Raider (film), where an action scene was filmed in/around the fishing village of Aberdeen Harbour.
In 2010, the American reality television showThe Amazing Race 17 (Leg 10) featured the Aberdeen Harbour as the location of a Detour task, where competitors searched for the right boat in the dark with a torch. In 2011, the Australian reality television showThe Amazing Race Australia 1 (Leg 3) featured the Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurant as one of the additional tasks' venue, where competitors needed to search for a hidden message inside fortune cookies.
In the 2012 video gameSleeping Dogs, Aberdeen is featured as one of the districts of Hong Kong that can be explored.
The Aberdeen Harbour has also appeared in movies such asJackie Chan'sThe Protector (1985) and another Hong Kong movie,Infernal Affairs II (2003).
Aberdeen has occasionally appeared inTVB's (a local television station) Food and Travel programs such asMaster So Food andNeighborhood Gourmet 2, as Aberdeen is known throughout Hong Kong for its food culture.[28][29]
香港 香港仔田灣海旁道7號興偉中心2-4樓 Head Office: 3/F, Hing Wai Centre, 7 Tin Wan Pr aya Road, Aberdeen, HK.
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Urban areas of Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories | |||||||||||
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| MHong Kong1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9a,10,11,12,14,15,16 |  | ||||||||||
| MOld KowloonKL,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9a,10,11,12,14,15,16 |
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| MNew KowloonNKL,2,3,4,5,6,7,9a,10,11,12,14,15,16 |
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Official place names are summarized from "Geoinfo Map" of Government ofHong Kong Special Administrative Region, "Hong Kong Guide" ofLands Department, "Hong Kong Guide Book" of Universal Publications Ltd. and "Areas and Districts" ofRating and Valuation Department. M：Narrow meaning of urban areas KL:Kowloon Peninsula at the south ofBoundary Street NKL: Former New Territories area at the north of Boundary Street and at the south ofLion Rock 1: Common definition (1) 2: Common definition (2) 3: Common definition (3) 4: Areas not adopting small house concessionary right ofindigenous inhabitants 5: Jurisdiction area of formerUrban Council 6: Definition of "Metropolitan Area" ofPlanning Department 7: Jurisdiction area ofUrban Renewal Authority 8: Unique operating area ofurban taxis 9: "Urban" (9a) and "Extended Urban" (9b) areas defined byHong Kong Housing Authority 10: Definition of Urbanrates 11: Hospital cluster belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon 12: Police region belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon 13: Regions having 999-year land lease 14:Geographical Constituency inHong Kong Legislative Council belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon 15:Regional Education Office belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon 16:Primary One Admission School Net belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon | |||||||||||
22°14′52″N114°09′06″E / 22.24778°N 114.15167°E /22.24778; 114.15167
