Possession Street, Hong Kong

Possession Street, situated in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, stretches from Queen's Road West to Hollywood Road. It serves as the dividing line between Queen's Road West and Queen's Road Central.

On January 20, 1841, an agreement known as the Convention of Chuenpi was reached between Charles Elliot of Britain and Qishan of the Qing dynasty. Following this agreement, Edward Belcher, a naval official, led a fleet that arrived in Hong Kong. Surveyors from the fleet discovered an elevated plain near the shore, which was deemed suitable for setting up a camp on the western side of the island. Consequently, a road was constructed from the shoreline to the camp, eventually becoming what is now known as Possession Street. The elevated plain is currently recognized as Hollywood Road Garden, also referred to as Tai Tat Tei.

On January 26, 1841, James John Gordon Bremer, the commander of the Far East Fleet, arrived in Hong Kong aboard HMS Calliope. An official ceremony involving the raising of a flag and firing of guns symbolized the formal possession of Hong Kong. Subsequently, the location where they landed was renamed Possession Point.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Possession Street became notorious for housing brothels. However, in 1903, these establishments were relocated to Shek Tong Tsui, and the area was repurposed for residential purposes. This transformation led to the emergence of a prosperous period in Shek Tong Tsui, attracting affluent Chinese merchants.