“Hong Kong in Translation” – freezing a time through words.

Why is “Wharf Road” the English translation of “和富道”? Why do names like Governor Clementi, David Trench, and Murray MacLehose sound so local?

Hong Kong is a unique place. In 1841, it came under British colonial rule. A small fishing village that spoke Chinese suddenly encountered the British language and culture. Slowly, Hong Kong people became a “hybrid”—speaking both Chinese and English.

Renowned Hong Kong translator, Professor Gilbert Fong, once said, “The entire history of Hong Kong is a process of translation.” In recent years, the trend of “stroll-learning” has grown in Hong Kong—walking slowly, observing, and connecting with the city. But in fact, translation can also be a way and a perspective to see the city.

In this episode of “Translating Hong Kong,” we invite Lonely Planet author and translator, Chung Wah Chow, to guide us on a walk from North Point to Causeway Bay, discovering the city’s history through street names and landmarks. We also have Calvin Duff, Vice Consul of British Consulate-General Hong Kong, unravel the mystery behind the renaming of British officials, exploring the relationship between Hong Kong and Britain during the colonial era.