Stanley Street is a street in Central on the Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong.

Location

Stanley Street runs parallel to Queen's Road Central between D'Aguilar Street and Graham Street. It intersects with Pottinger Street, Cochrane Street and Gutzlaff Street along the way.

History

The street was named after Lord Stanley (subsequently Earl of Derby), British Colonial Secretary at the time of the cession of Hong Kong to the United Kingdom, and subsequently Prime Minister. Japanese prostitutes constituted the majority of Japanese residents of Hong Kong in the late 19th century, and there were 13 licensed Japanese brothels and 132 prostitutes in Hong Kong in 1901. These brothels were initially located in Central, mostly on Hollywood Road, Stanley Street and Wellington Street. They later moved to Wan Chai. The street is associated with revolution activities to overthrow Imperial China led by Sun Yat-sen around the 1900s although all traces have long gone.

Features