history of cat street

The street has been famous for selling old goods, second hand items for 100 years at least.  At one time stolen goods were common here and a "cat" is Chinese is a handler of stolen goods, a "fence", as thieves are called 'rats'.

At least this is the common story of the origin of the name cat street, however nobody alive today can remember the real origins so like so much of Hong Kong names this is shrouded in mystery!

What is agreed is that since the 1960s Cat Street has been the place to buy common antiques, long before fashionable and high priced shops opened on Hollywood road lower down the slope there was a thriving trade in Upper Lascar Row.

Rest assured that today the stalls and shops on Cat Street are reputable businesses selling original and reproduction antique and souvenir items.