The Siege of Kowloon Walled City｜The demolition of Kowloon Walled City reviews the history of Hong Kong’s Santang Zone (multiple pictures) | am730

The demolition of the Kowloon Walled City reviews the history of Hong Kong’s Sankang zone (am730 drawing)

January 14, 1987, is an unforgettable day for those who once lived in Kowloon Walled City. At 9 a.m., the government suddenly announced the complete demolition of Kowloon Walled City and immediately dispatched hundreds of police and Housing Department staff to besiege the city. The news shocked the whole Hong Kong. Although the residents later understood that this approach was to prevent people from temporarily moving in and defrauding them of compensation, the residents were shocked to see their homes surrounded and demolition imminent, and at the same time they felt hesitant about the future.

Article source:“Contemporary China” website

In the Song Dynasty, Kowloon Walled City was known as the “official wealth market” in the past.

Kowloon Walled City is a special area in Hong Kong’s history. Its origins can be traced back to the Song Dynasty. It used to be called “Guan Fu Chang”, and it was only called “Kowloon Walled City” in the Qing Dynasty. At the beginning of the 20th century, the area of ​​Kowloon Walled City reached 47,000 square meters, which was located on the northwest coast of Kowloon Bay, today’s Prince Edward Road East. Later, with the construction of Kai Tak Airport, it began to fall into the inland area. During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese army demolished part of the city wall to expand the airport, and the Walled City gradually narrowed to the north of Jia Bingda Road.

View of Kowloon Walled City from Baihe Mountain to the south during the late Qing Dynasty. Kowloon Walled City was one of the two early coastal defense gates in Hong Kong, and it had been stationed by Qing troops for a long time. (online picture)

Kowloon Walled City has a special status as a “Three No Matters” zone in Hong Kong’s history

Since the “Special Treaty on Expanding the Boundary Site of Hong Kong” signed between the Qing court and the British stated that “all Chinese officials stationed in Kowloon City can still perform their duties in the city, but they must not interfere with the armaments to defend Hong Kong.” Let Kowloon Walled City become an “enclave” famously ruled by British Hong Kong, and the governance power still belongs to China. Its special status also made Kowloon Walled City a hotbed of crime for post-war immigrants and evading British legal sanctions. It became a “three no-nos” zone that later generations described as “the Hong Kong government dare not control it, the British side does not want to control it, and the Chinese side cannot control it.” .

In the 1980s, China and Britain negotiated on the future of Hong Kong. In 1984, they signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration to make transitional preparations for Hong Kong’s return. In 1987, China and Britain reached an agreement on the demolition of the Walled City, determined to divide it into three parts within three years. It will be demolished in the first phase and arranged for the relocation of about 40,000 residents in the village. The government has been vigorous and resolute in dealing with the issue of the Walled City, providing residents with generous compensation and giving priority to residents to apply for Home Ownership Scheme housing. Even if they choose to wait for public housing, they can also receive relocation allowance.

Further reading：Kowloon Walled City or Kowloon Walled City?

Over a hundred mobile troops were needed to demolish Kowloon Walled City?

However, the demolition of Kowloon Walled City also caused a lot of turmoil. Checking the newspapers, in November 1991, more than 80 residents who refused to be relocated sat in protest at the Hong Kong Government House all night. The police took the first demolition action, dispatching more than a hundred mobile troops to blockade the Kowloon Walled City, break into the houses and carry away the left-behind residents, which became the foundation of Hong Kong. A storm in history. In 1994, the demolition of the Kowloon Walled City was finally completed, and the Hong Kong government immediately built the Kowloon Walled City Park on the original site.

Today’s Kowloon Walled City Park retains some historical relics, including the former forts, government offices, and granite tablets inscribed with “South Gate” and “Kowloon Walled City”. However, there are not many records about the life of the modern Walled City. . Although there were voices from society calling for conservation when the Walled City was demolished, the official government at that time only allowed a Japanese expedition team to enter the Walled City to inspect and draw maps. If you want to reminisce about the scenery of the modern Walled City, watching a movie may be a better choice.

Further reading:Reclaim “Little Taiwan” and develop Tseung Kwan O new town in Tiu Keng Leng