Upper Lascar Row, better known as Cat Street , is a narrow alley in Mid Levels, Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

 that runs parallel to Hollywood Road

Hollywood Road

Hollywood Road is a street in Central and Sheung Wan, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.Hollywood Road is filled with trinket and antique shops of all sorts: from Chinese furniture to porcelain ware, from Buddha sculptures to Tibetan rugs, from Japanese netsukes to Coromandel screens, from Ming...

 on the north side. It is a straight alley measuring over 509 feet. "Lascars" were seamen from South Asia

South Asia

South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...

, and particularly from the Indian subcontinent

Indian subcontinent

The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...

, who frequented the area, giving it a reputation for lawlessness and criminal behaviour. There was an Indian police dormitory in this street.

In the past it was a common joke that, if you had something stolen, you were almost certain to find it for sale back in Cat Street. In Cantonese slang thieves are called rats, and the dealers who purchase goods from the rats are cats. Thus this street is also known as "Cat Street" in Cantonese.

On 11 February 1911 a fire burnt Upper and Lower Lascar Row destroying 16 houses and damaging another 24.

Now Cat Street is mostly occupied by antique shops, and is a popular destination for tourists.

See also

• Upper and Lower Lascar Row
  Upper and Lower Lascar Row
  Lascar Row is located at Sheung Wan, the Central and Western District, which is between the Hollywood Road and the Queen's Road Central.The official name should be Upper Lascar Row. The street name "Upper Street" is very special, but in fact, there is another "Lower Street" called Lower Lascar Row....
  
  
• Lower Lascar Row:

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