Thirty years ago the wrecking balls swung on a city known as the world’s most densely populated and razed it to the ground.
This incredible city, established in 1898, grew to become home to 35,000 people as more storeys were added to buildings in the 26,000 square meter footprint. Eventually, authorities imposed a maximum limit of 14 storeys to prevent landing airplanes from hitting their wings on the rooftop TV antennas.
Hong Kong’s Kowloon Walled City was a magnet for squatters and refugees after it was abandoned by the Chinese government. At the end of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II, the population of the city surged.
A lack of official government saw it become a hot bed for the trade of illegal products and like drugs and dog meat and from the 1950s it was run by organised crime syndicates which were known as triads.
As a result, the city saw high rates of prostitution, gambling and drug use, reports the Express. The lack of police intervention meant it became a focus for some of the biggest triad groups – like 14K and Sun Yee – who took power over the gaming parlours, opium dens and brothels housed in the walls of the city.
In 1973 and 1974 however, police carried out raids on the city, making arrests and seizing drugs which saw the gangs’ grip begin to loosen on Kowloon. And when younger residents supported the cleaning up of the area, violent crime and drug use began to wane.
By 1983, Hong Kong’s police commander said that the crime rate was under control.
The population still grew despite the fact the city’s streets were illuminated by fluorescent lights as sunlight rarely reached lower levels no matter what time of day it was.
Despite its issues with crime gangs, the city thrived with small, successful businesses flourishing among its entrepreneurial inhabitants.
By 1985 though the city was gone as authorities knocked it down. Residents were offered money to leave ahead of the demolition but many were unhappy with the amount – 33,000 residents were offered around £280 million to move away.
Today, some of the old structures can still be found. However, in 1995, a £7 million project saw the only city transformed into Kowloon Walled City Park.
The park’s design is divided into eight landscapes, with displays of artefacts from the walled city. The paths and pavillions are also named after the old streets and buildings, treasuring significant moments in Hong Kong’s history.
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