Hong Kong Means « Fragrant Harbour »

Hong Kong is famous around the world. Its unique history, along with its significant role as a global financial centre, makes it one of the world’s great cities. Yet, apart from Chinese speakers and some non-Chinese-speaking inhabitants of the city, few people know the meaning of its name.

The name derives from a small inlet between modern-day Ap Lei Chau and Aberdeen, on the south-western coast of Hong Kong Island, where British sailors first came into contact with the Tanka people.

"Hong Kong" is an anglicised version of the Tanka Cantonese Heung Gong, which literally translates to "Fragrant Harbour". It is believed that the name Heung Gong originally referred to the aroma drifting from the incense mills that used to be located across the New Territories—specifically in Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, and Tai Po—as well as on Lantau Island.

The incense, produced from native Agarwood (Aquilaria sinensis), was transported to Aberdeen Harbour, which was known—and is still known—locally as 香港仔 (Hēunggóngjái), literally translating to "Little Hong Kong". There, the Agarwood was stored along the waterfront before being exported, enveloping the entire harbor in a sweet, aromatic scent.

When British merchants first encountered the Tanka fishermen inhabiting the area of Little Hong Kong, they were captivated by this fragrant aroma. Later, for reasons of cartographic and administrative convenience, the name Heung Gong—or Hong Kong, which closely mirrors the local Tanka pronunciation—was applied to the entire island, and eventually to the whole territory.