By John Cairns

VICTORIA HARBOR, Hong Kong – A bright young woman named Andrea Choi, who works on a visiting ship, the MV Doulos, may have solved one of Hong Kong’s biggest puzzles.

On June 6, the Doulos sailed into Victoria Harbor and berthed at Ocean Terminal on the Kowloon side. Once Andrea, from South Korea, caught sight of Hong Kong’s skyline, she sniffed the problematic air and made a few clever calculations.

For years, visitors to Hong Kong have gasped, gagged and groaned, often struggling to breathe while blaming serious air pollution. Most attribute a persistent nasty odor to local conditions, like the overcrowded city, smog, water pollution and stifling heat.

Ironically, Hong Kong means “Fragrant Harbor”. Uncertainty surrounds the name’s origins. Some historians say it emerged from the incense trade.

Meanwhile, the Doulos, home to a floating bookstore operated by volunteers, supports charity work and cultural exchanges. On June 9, Andrea spoke at an opening ceremony as the ship began its month-long stay.

Surprisingly, she mentioned the local scent. “I’m told that Hong Kong in Cantonese means Fragrant Harbor,” she said. “Indeed, anyone who takes a step out into Hong Kong can feel the fragrance of professionalism, internationalism and globalization.”

So that’s it. Most locals probably would have expected “professionalism, internationalism and globalization” to smell better.

“We hope to add on to this fragrance by living up to our purpose of spreading knowledge, help and hope during our visit here,” Andrea said.

Whoa! Not many people will want to make the Fragrant Harbor even more “fragrant”. Gasp! Choke! Cough!


'We hope to add on to this
fragrance,' Andrea says.

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