Stanley, Hong Kong

Stanley Peninsula

Stanley or Chek Chue (; literally "Bandit's post" or "red pillar") is a village town and tourist attraction on the south of Hong Kong Island and part of the Southern District, Hong Kong. It is located east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O. Adjacent to Chung Hom Kok.

Name

Stanley

There are two possible origins of the name "Chek Chue".

Legend has it that the notorious pirate Cheung Po Tsai was active in Stanley. That is why the district became known in Chinese as Chak Chue (賊柱 local dialect for Bandit's Post). There was once a Cheung Po Tsai Cave near the Tin Hau Temple west of Stanley, but the cave was filled in the early 1950s.

The original Chinese name of the village was believed to be based on a big tall cotton tree (Bombax malabaricum, Bombax ceiba 木棉樹) often covered with bright red blossoms at the time, hence red pillar (赤柱) in Hakka language.

It was given an English name based on Lord Stanley, 19th-century British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies.

History

After the annexation of Hong Kong in 1842, the British made Stanley the administrative centre for a while, before moving to the newly founded Victoria City north of Hong Kong Island.

Stanley was the location where the British garrison in Hong Kong was defeated by the advancing Japanese troops in December 1941. The former British barracks at Stanley is now occupied by the People's Liberation Army, after Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China in 1997.

Attractions

Murray House

Stanley is famous for its beach with BBQ areas, Stanley Market, the 2001 opened Stanley Plaza with the historic Murray House, which was transferred from Central,and its al-fresco dining restaurants along the waterfront.

Murray House

Main article: Murray House

Once a government building in Central, it was dismantled in 1982 to make way for new buildings. The facade was stored in a warehouse and then rebuilt in Stanley in 1998. It was open to the public in 1999. It houses several restaurants and a mini museum introducing its history. When it was rebuilt, the ink used to label the pieces had washed off, and when they had finished constructing the building, they had six columns left over. These columns now stand outside the building.

Currently the bottom floor of Murray House is home to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. The museum has over 500 exhibits from ancient pottery and shipping goods to interactive games for all ages. It celebrates all of Hong Kong seafaring history for the ancient Hakka people to the British Colonial Navy to the giant container ships which grace the waters of Hong Kong today.

Stanley Plaza

Adjacent to Murray House, opened in 2001, it includes a shopping arcade and a community theatre. It is owned by Hong Kong Housing Authority. Every Christmas Stanley Plaza hosts a free concert in the theatre put on by the Hong Kong International School band.

Stanley Market

Main article: Stanley Market

The open-air market in Stanley has become known for its bargains in clothes—particularly silk garments and traditional Chinese dress—as well as toys, ornaments, souvenirs, and Chinese arts and crafts. It is a popular destination both for tourists and locals.

Dining

There are several bars and restaurants on Stanley's waterfront where you can enjoy almost every type of food available from Italian to Indian to American to Beer and snacks at the Smugglers Inn. On the weekends many of the restaurants bring out chairs and tables so the people can eat outside.

Others

* Tin Hau Temple (Temple of the Queen of Heaven), built in 1767, is one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong.
* The Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum is located in Stanley.
* The Old Stanley Police Station is a declared monument of Hong Kong.
* Right now, construction work is going on as land is reclaimed from the bay. The goal is to create a waterfront promenade in front of the many restaurants.
* Stanley Municipal Building is set to open later in 2006.

Transport

Stanley Beach

Stanley is served by Repulse Bay Road and Tai Tam Road. It is extremely easy to reach with several buses that go back and forth from all over Hong Kong. In addition to the many buses Stanley is also served by a taxi stand, which is almost always full.

Bus

First Bus
Stanley Market: 65, 399
Stanley Prison: 63
Stanley Fort: 14
Stanley Plaza: 66

Citybus
Stanley Market: 973
Stanley Prison: 6, 6X, 73, 260, 314
Stanley Fort: 6A

Minibus

Stanley Market: 16M
Stanley Prison: 52, 40

See also

* Beaches of Hong Kong
* List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
* Strolling Around Stanley Market