The origin of the name
Statement 1: The name of Hong Kong is related to spices. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, Hong Kong was administratively under the jurisdiction of Dongguan, Guangdong. Since the Ming Dynasty, a small harbor in the southern part of Hong Kong Island has been a distribution port for the transportation of southern Guangdong spices. It became famous for transporting spices produced in Dongguan, Guangdong and was called "Hong Kong" by people. It is said that at that time, the spices transported by Hong Kong were of high quality and were known as the "Hainan Treasures". Many local people in Hong Kong also made a living by growing spices. Hong Kong, along with the spices it cultivated, gained great fame and gradually gained recognition from far and wide. Before long, this spice was listed as a tribute to the emperor and created the flourishing incense making and transportation industry at that time. But later on, the villagers refused to plant it, and the cultivation and transportation of spices gradually disappeared, but the name Hong Kong was preserved.
Statement 2: Hong Kong is a natural harbor with sweet and delicious streams nearby. Sailors traveling by sea often come here to fetch water for drinking. Over time, the sweet and fragrant streams have become famous, and this small stream is also known as the "Hong Kong River". The small harbor formed by the alluvial deposits of the Hong Kong River into the sea is also known as "Hong Kong". A group of British people landed on Hong Kong Island from this harbor, so they also used the word "Hong Kong" to name the whole island. Until today, "Hong Kong" is still another name for Hong Kong.
Although there are different opinions, it can be roughly affirmed that the name Hong Kong first appeared in the Ming Dynasty. It originally referred to a small harbor and village on Hong Kong Island today, and later expanded to refer to the entire island (Hong Kong Island). Finally, in the early 19th century, it became a general term for the entire region occupied by British colonialists.
The English name of Hong Kong is based on the pronunciation of Guangzhou, originally translated as Heung Kong. Many water residents in Hong Kong pronounce "Xiang" as "Kang", so the English name is also spelled as Hong Kong.