Queen's Road looking west from Battery Path, Central District

Before the British arrived in Hong Kong there was a path that ran along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island. It was known as Kwan Tai Lo. In 1841 the Royal Engineers laid a new road on top of the towpath and named this highway Main Street, but on 22 March 1842 the road was officially renamed Queen's Road after the young Queen Victoria. This postcard was taken a quarter of a century later from the top of Battery Path looking west. On the right hand side of the road is Pedder Street Clock Tower. The building in front of it is the Hongkong Hotel. The towers of the first Roman Catholic Cathedral (The Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) in Wellington Street are visible on the left of the postcard.