Kowloon Walled City
Kowloon Walled City, one thought to be the most densely populated place on earth, It was ungoverned and notorious for it's crime and drug dens.
The city traces back to the 1600's, when it was a Chinese military fort to defend the area against pirates and to manage the production of salt, but it eventually became an enclave when the Chinese authorities leased the New territories to the British.
During World War II, Hong Kong fell under the rules of Japanese occupation, and parts of Kowloon Walled City were demolished for building materials for the nearby airport. When the Japanese finally surrendered the city, the population increased as the number of squatters moved in and made their homes there. It then fell under the rule of Chinese triads.
By the 1980's, it had become notorious for its brothels, casinos, cocaine parlors, and opium dens. It was also famous for its restaurants that would serve dog meat.
The city eventually became the focus of a diplomatic crisis, with both China and Britain refusing to take responsibility. Over time, British and Chinese authorities found the city to be increasingly intolerable, and made the decision to demolish it, despite the city's lowering crime rates over the later years. Eventually, due to lacking sanitary issues, the decision was made to demolish the city.
Some residents protested, but the government spend 7.2 billion HKD's in compensation and began the evacuation in 1991. The evacuation was completed in 1992, and in 1993 demolition began and finished in 1994. In 1995, Kowloon Walled City Park opened. In it were the preserved remnants of the South Gate to the City, as well as the Yamen building.
During World War II, Hong Kong fell under the rules of Japanese occupation, and parts of Kowloon Walled City were demolished for building materials for the nearby airport. When the Japanese finally surrendered the city, the population increased as the number of squatters moved in and made their homes there. It then fell under the rule of Chinese triads.
By the 1980's, it had become notorious for its brothels, casinos, cocaine parlors, and opium dens. It was also famous for its restaurants that would serve dog meat.
The city eventually became the focus of a diplomatic crisis, with both China and Britain refusing to take responsibility. Over time, British and Chinese authorities found the city to be increasingly intolerable, and made the decision to demolish it, despite the city's lowering crime rates over the later years. Eventually, due to lacking sanitary issues, the decision was made to demolish the city.
Some residents protested, but the government spend 7.2 billion HKD's in compensation and began the evacuation in 1991. The evacuation was completed in 1992, and in 1993 demolition began and finished in 1994. In 1995, Kowloon Walled City Park opened. In it were the preserved remnants of the South Gate to the City, as well as the Yamen building.
At the peak of its population, the city was home to 33,000 people; 33,000 families and businesses were all crammed into around 300 interconnected high rise buildings, all constructed without the input of architects, within a 2.6 hectare block. The only open place were the rooftops of buildings, where planes often flew overhead because of the city's close proximity to Kai Tak Airport. despite the rate of crime in the city, the residents were said to live peaceful lives.
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