Matheson's Point. Jardine Matheson & Co.'s godowns and offices at East Point, Hong Kong

'On 26 January 1841 James Matheson was present at the hoisting of the British flag over Hong Kong at Possession Point. ... Always quick off the mark Matheson had erected his mat shed godown only a month after the flag had been hoisted and well ahead of the official land sales. Captain Morgan, Jardine Matheson's agent, bought the three lots on which the new godown stood, together with a substantial area at East Point (in early days called Matheson's Point). The central lots were on land surrounded by the military and in 1843 the government decided to requisition them in exchange for cash compensation and first choice of lots elsewhere. Morgan wrote: 'The point is best for our purposes altogether. I have no doubt we can sell our other godowns to the Government for at least 100% profit.' The Firm chose two lots in West Point, meanwhile developing East Point as quickly as they could, having decided to make it their headquarters, rather than Macao or Canton.' (R. Blake, Jardine Matheson Traders of the Far East, London, 1999, pp.111-2)