Chinese Text & photo by Mr Chan Yat Fong

Map of Stanley in 1995

Casual visitors have been heard to say there is nothing much to see or do in Stanley except shop. This is not in fact true as there are several well-hidden historic attractions.

Generally, visitors find themselves herded towards Main Street and outer Ma Hang area as a large proportion of the Stanley Peninsula is either restricted (the Fort, prison) or private (schools, residential) areas.

Fact or Fiction?

There are several stories connected to the origin of the district's Chinese name CHEK CHUE, meaning "red pillar".

This name appeared in several official historical documents in southern China, dating back to the Ming (1268-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. They mentioned that Chek Chue was an important place for defence and that some English people were already living there in the Qing Dynasty.

According to (ed.) Lai C.W.'s book Centenary History of Hong Kong (1948), the name Chek Chue Shan (Red Pillar Hill) derived from a big cotton tree in early the early Qing dynasty. After a typhoon however, all that was left of the tree was the strong trunk, which stood firm for a long time, but with no bark - like a red pillar when looked at from afar. When the CHAN family settled near the tree, they named the whole area Chek Chue.

Another story says that as the numerous cotton tree flowers were in blossom in spring, they made the area look like a red-hot pillar during sunset. To avoid using the word 'fire' - which conflicts with the strong water element of the area according to Yin-yan, the word 'Chek' (Red) was adopted. [Editor's remark: according to contemporary oral reports of the Chan descendents, Hakka people usually referred to the place in their dialect as Chak Chu (the thieves' place) to newcomers, when pirates were abundant in those days].

WATER DEITIES & ANTIQUITIES

If you first bypass the shops and walk to the east end of Main Street, with some difficulty you'll find the Shui Tsein Temple [A] next to a house on the rock stretching out from the seafront. The old word TSEIN, meaning "the immortals", was most popular during the "Six Dynasties" period several hundred years ago. This is unique as it is the only temple in the Island worshipping solely this Water God. (There is only a tablet, no statue)

Walking past the pubs along the waterfront, near the Stanley Residents Association. (SRA) clubhouse is the Tai Wong Temple [B]. Further along Ma Hang is the famous Tin Hau Temple [C] that shows that Chek Chue was a working fishing settlement as fishermen commonly worship Tin Hau. The iron pots and two stone lions outside and the big old bell inside all date from the Qing Dynasty. The undated big stone weight is also probably at least a century old.

Besides other popular Chinese immortals, on the wall there is a tiger-skin, blackened by smoke. In 1942 one [of the four] ethnic Indian policeman from the Stanley Police Station [itself now a historic building, built in 1858] shot a tiger that weighed 240 pounds.

Up the path behind the Temple you will find the more contemporary Kwun Yum [Guan Yin] Temple [D], (and the big statue), which was founded by a Burmese Chinese.

Along the seafront of Ma Hang to the southwest is the small Pak Tai Temple [E], built in 1805. On the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month many fishermen celebrate Pak Tai's birthday in this temple [There is also a parade].

If you are still ready for more, the relocation project in Ma Hang of the former Murray House Building (originally in Central and carefully taken apart brick by brick in 1987) [F] is well worth a visit as it has been lovingly restored and now houses several upmarket restaurants and shops.