JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF HONG KONG

AVENUE OF STARS

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Avenue of Stars was designed to recognize the film industry's contribution in promoting Hong Kong as a destination worldwide.

This attraction goes a few steps further than Hollywood's popular Walk of Fame. Along Hong Kong's Avenue of Stars, visitors will find not only plaques 

emblazoned with the names of famous Hong Kong actors and actresses, but will also be treated to a video about the local movie industry, sculptures of particularly notable stars, souvenir kiosks, and interesting tidbits about Hong Kong's more than 100-year film history.

One of the most recent additions to the Avenue of Stars is a 2-meter-high bronze statue of the world's most famous martial arts actor, Bruce Lee. Dedicated in 2005,the statue marked the 65th anniversary of Lee's birth.

Some actors whose names are included on the Avenue of Stars are recognizable only to the Hong Kong community or aficionados of Hong Kong films. Others may be recognized by film fans the world over, such as Jet Li and Sammo Hung, considered the king of the Hong Kong action film.

Initially, 100 actors - both living and dead - were honored along the Avenue of Stars. The local film board notes that they hope to add more stars to their walkway each October.

Avenue of Stars is a free attraction that can be visited any time of the day or night. It's especially lovely in the evening when it's illuminated with tons of twinkling lights.

The promenade at Tsim Sha Tsui also provides a stunning view of the harbor and is an especially good place from which to watch the nighttime Symphony of Lights, a must-see for visitors to Hong Kong.

STATUE SQUARE

The pretty pedestrian area that has become known as Statue Square has been a fixture in Hong Kong since the end of the 19th century. At that time, Hong Kong chose to honor royalty from the then-mother country of England as well as a prominent citizen who had left his mark on the British colony.

When the square was first organized, statues of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, and Edward VII (Prince of Wales and later King of Great Britain and Ireland) all stood in this area.

Joining them was Sir Thomas Jackson, the chief manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) from 1876 to 1902.

Originally, one could view Victoria Harbor from the northern side of the square. However, buildings now stand between Statue Square and the waterfront.

During World War II, the artwork in Statue Square, along with two bronze lions that stood at the nearby HSBC building, were commandeered by the Japanese and taken to Japan to be melted. Fortunately, that never occurred.

After the war, all of the statues were returned to Hong Kong. Currently, Jackson's sits in the middle of the square and the statue of Queen Victoria was placed in Victoria Park. The lions were returned to their original home as well. The cenotaph, a memorial honoring those who died during the second World War was placed at the northern end of the square.

In the mid-1960s, Hong Kong officials beautified the square and added plantings and fountains to the area, making it a quiet and peaceful place to enjoy the midday meal or just take a respite from a long day of sightseeing.

Sources  :
                        www.wikipedia.org
                        www.traveleye.com