Rednaxela Terrace

Rednaxela Terrace (Chinese: 列拿士地臺 Liht-nàh-sih-deih Tòih) is a pedestrian-only street in Mid-levels, Hong Kong.

A road Sign of Rednaxela Terrace

Dr. José Rizal's Business Card, showing his residence at No.2 Rednaxela Terrace

It is 63 metres (207 ft) long and junctions Shelley Street to the west and Peel Street to the east.[1]

Name

Although there aren't any official conclusions to the origin of the name, it is believed that the road was part of the property owned by a Mr. Alexander, and 'Rednaxela' is an understandable transposition of the English name 'Alexander', since the Chinese language was typically written right to left at the time.[2][3] Most of the naming errors in Hong Kong are a result of incorrect or inaccurate translations or transliterations, so some believe the explanation of this unique example of right-to-left transposition error in Hong Kong under colonial bureaucrats inconceivable. Another explanation is that the name is linked to abolitionist Robert Alexander Young, who was known to have used the name "Rednaxela" in his 1829 work Ethiopian Manifesto.[1] Whatever the source of the name, Chinese transliteration followed suit and was adopted by the neighbourhood, and the government never made any further alterations.[1]

History

From December 1891 to June 1892, the Filipino revolutionary and national hero José Rizal lived with his family at Number 2, Rednaxela Terrace, then working as an eye clinician in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government erected a commemorative plaque in 2004 on the intersection of Rednaxela Terrace and Shelley Street to honour Rizal.[1][3]

References

1. "列拿士地臺的故事". Headline Daily (in Chinese).
2. Yanne, Andrew; Heller, Gillis (2009). Signs of a Colonial Era. Hong Kong University Press. p. 143. ISBN 9789622099449.
3. "Stories behind Hong Kong street names: Rednaxela Terrace and its famous resident". South China Morning Post.