Scottish place names abroad: Aberdeen, Hong Kong

In our next instalment of Scottish place names abroad, we take a look at Aberdeen in southern Hong Kong and its close ties with the fishing industry, including its iconic floating village

Appropriately enough, Aberdeen in Hong Kong was originally, like its Scottish namesake, a traditional port town that housed a bustling fishing industry. It is one of the southernmost areas of the island, and forms part of Honk Kong’s Southern District. Substantial investment in the waterfront area around Aberdeen has transformed the harbour skyline in the last few decades: brightly-lit skyscrapers tower over the small fishing junks and sampans dotted around the shore. Such vessels remain a common sight in Aberdeen and act as a reminder that the Hong Kong harbour retains something of its past.

The name ‘Aberdeen’ refers to the harbour village, with a population of about 60,000. In the early 19th century, Aberdeen was originally referred to as Hong Kong. When foreign traders arrived at Hong Kong, they had mistakenly assumed that the name of the village referred to the entire island. Accordingly, the village was renamed Aberdeen after Edinburgh-born, former British Prime Minister George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784 - 1860). At the time, Hamilton-Gordon was Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, a cabinet position with responsibility Britain’s colonian interests outside of India, which included Hong Kong. Beyond that, the village has little affiliation with its Scottish namesake.

Despite the rapid pace of development in Hong Kong, Aberdeen is famed for its floating village, which houses 10 per cent of the village’s entire population and is packed with an estimated 500-600 junks. Most residents are fishermen. One of the most popular attractions in Aberdeen floating village is the Jumbo Floating Restaurant, The restaurant has a history of appearing in Chinese films such as Infernal Affairs II and The Protector, the latter starring a young Jackie Chan. The adjacent restaurant, Tak Pai Floating Restaurant, was part of the scenery for Bruce Lee’s Enter The Dragon.