10 Origins Of Famous City Names
6. Hong Kong
Hong Kong is located on the southeast coast of China and is famous for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. The name Hong Kong is the phonetic rendering of the pronunciation of two cantonese characters meaning fragrant harbour. The reference to fragrance comes from the sweetness of the water of the Pearl river and because incense that was produced in nearby factories would often be held at Hong Kong before being exported by sea.
The city became a British colony in 1842 after the Qing Dynasty government were defeated in the First Opium War. During british rule, the cities population grew rapidly due to large flocks of refugees coming to the city from mainland China. Due to the population boom and the eagerness of the refugees to work, Hong Kong became a major centre of manufacturing. This period in Hong Kongs history has led to the development of a very unique culture in the city that blends together aspects of both eastern and western societies.
On 1st July 1997, Hong Kong became the first special Administrative region of the peoples republic of China. This allows for Hong Kong to be a part of the country of China but to also retain its capitalist system and freedom of speech. The agreement is known officially as One Country, Two Systems.