Indigenous signs for cities in Hong Kong (香港)

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Explanation of glossing system used
(to understand how I describe the signs in this dictionary)

Aberdeen (香港仔)
Index and middle finger of [H] close on thumb, PO > signer + (2h)[B], POs ><, FOs away, DH is held above and touching NDH, move forward slightly 2x.1

Castle Peak (青山)
[V], PO > NDS, alt. wiggles FTs while kept stiff + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Causeway Bay (铜锣湾)
(2h)[A] with thumbs wrapped around edges of index fingers, DH taps the middle of the NDH forearm 2x + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Central District (中区)
DH [1], PO away, FO up, is held behind and touches NDH [G], FO > DS [< the sign CHUNG - "center" which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Chaiwan (柴湾)
DH [B], PO up, passes 2x under NDH [A] with thumb wrapped around edge of index finger, PO > DS + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Cheung Chau (长洲)
(2h)[B^ dot], POs ><, FOs away, separate while closing to (2h)[O^] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Fanling (粉岭)
Thumb runs along FTs of fingers from ring finger to thumb of same hand like FEW + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Happy Valley (跑马地)
(2h)[S], POs > signer, DH is held above and touching NDH, both rise together + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above. (< sign for "place").1

Hunghum (indigenous name for Hunghum )
[1], PO > signer, runs FT down chin 2x + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Kennedy Town (indigenous name for Kennedy Town )
DH [M], PO away, but with FTs held straight out crosses wrists with NDH [S], PO down, and DH waves slightly from side to side at wrist. + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Kowloon (九龙)
[X], PO away, FO up, is shaken slightly in place + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Kwun Tong (观塘)
[3] touches thumb to forehead + [V] touches DS jaw with FTs.1

Laichikok (indigenous name for Laichikok )
[Y], PO > signer, FO up, moves down face.1

Lyemun (indigenous name for Lyemun )
[B], PO > NDS, nods hand up and down (like a handshake) while moving forward + (2h)[B], POs down, FOs away are held side by side and separate while supinating (< the sign MUN - "gate").1

Mongkok (旺角)
DH [1], PO down, lays finger across FTs of NDH [F], PO up, FO away [< the sign MONG which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

New Territories (新界)
[B] runs FTs down DS cheek + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Ngau Tau Kok (牛头角)
[Y] touches DS temple with thumb + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

North Point (indigenous name for North Point )
(2h)[L], POs > signer, FOs up, touch pinkie sides together [< sign for "north" which also resembles the ideogram (character) for that word] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Ping Chau (平洲)
(2h)[B], POs down, FOs away, separate, then hands are brought together, POs up, FOs away.1

Rennies Mill (indigenous name for Rennies Mill)
[1] runs FT across throat towards DS and then up jaw + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Repulse Bay (浅水湾)
[B], PO > NDS, FOs up, moves towards DS while closing to [O^].1

Sai Ying Poon (西营盘)
(2h)[B], POs ><, FOs away, DH is held above and touching NDH, move forward slightly 2x + [G dot], PO > NDS is shaken slightly + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Sau Mau Ping (秀茂坪)
[V] touches jaw + [S], PO away, FO up, is held in place (not shaken).1

Shamshuipo (深水埗)
[W], PO away, FO up, is shaken slightly at wrist [< the sign SHUI, which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word] + [1] moves downward from side + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Shatin (沙田)
Thumb runs along FTs of fingers from ring finger to thumb of same hand like FEW + (2h)[W], POs down, FOs away, cross FTs diagonally [< the sign TIN, which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word].1

Shaukiwan (筲箕湾)
(2h)[B], DH runs FTs (> DS) across the palm of NDH, PO up, FO away, 2x + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Shek O (石澳)
FT of [X] taps against teeth + [O], PO > signer is held in place (not shaken).1

Sheung Shui (上水)
[1] points and moves upward (< the sign SHEUNG - "heaven") + [W], PO away, FO up is shaken slightly at wrist [< the sign SHUI, which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word].1

Sheung Wan (上环)
[1] points upward (< sign for SHEUNG - "Heaven") + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Silver Mine Bay (indigenous name for Silver Mine Bay )
[F], PO away, FO up, is held at side of mouth.1

Stanley (赤柱)
(2h)[A] with thumbs wrapped around edges of index fingers are crossed at wrists with DH PO down and NDH PO up, twist at wrists until they exchange POs + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Tokwawan (土瓜湾)
Thumb runs along FTs of fingers from ring finger to thumb of same hand like FEW + (2h)[C], POs ><, FOs down, are held below waist + [B], PO > NDS, passes through area that was between these two hands + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Tse Wan Shan (慈云山)
(2h)[B:], POs away, held high and move in circles symmetrically as seen from behind + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Tsimshatsui (尖沙嘴)
[F], PO away, FO up, is held at DS temple + [X], PO away, FO up, is shaken slightly in place.1

Tsuen Wan (荃湾)
DH [5:], PO up, crosses wrists with [S], PO down and DH closes to [S].1

Wanchai (湾仔)
[B], PO > NDS, hand rises and falls while moving forward + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Wong Tain Sin (黄玠罪过)
[5], PO away, FO up, is twisted 2x at elbow + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Yaumati Sin (油麻地小单)
[bO], PO > signer, is held at mouth + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Yuen Long (元朗)
[L:], PO > NDS is held in place + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1


List of sources cited

1. Yin-Chee Goodstadt, R. (1972). Speaking with signs: A sign language manual for Hongkong's Deaf. Hongkong: Government Printer.

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