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‘Observatoly’ street sign error prompts Highways Department to review checks

Hong Kong authorities have said that a street sign mistakenly spelled as “Observatoly” was due to a contractor relying on an “old, scratched” marker to…

By Samantha Johnson / July 11, 2026

Hong Kong authorities have said that a street sign mistakenly spelled as “Observatoly” was due to a contractor relying on an “old, scratched” marker to make the new one, a slip-up that has amused residents online.

Images shared by residents on social media showed the street sign for Observatory Road in Tsim Sha Tsui erroneously written as “Observatoly”, prompting online comments poking fun at the mistake.

“It will become ‘Lavatory Road’,” one user wrote with a pair of chuckling emojis.

“Sorly!” another wrote.

When the South China Morning Post visited the area on Saturday, the sign had already been removed by authorities.

Earlier this year, the sign for Cleverly Street in Sheung Wan was misspelled as “Clevrly”. Photo: Facebook/Paul Liu
Earlier this year, the sign for Cleverly Street in Sheung Wan was misspelled as “Clevrly”. Photo: Facebook/Paul Liu

When approached for comment, the Highways Department said that immediately upon receiving notice of the spelling mistake, it had instructed the contractor to remove the sign, which had been erected in June, “to avoid confusion”.

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