Kowloon Walled City: City of Darkness
When we think about an infrastructure project, we always link it with the build-up of something: railways, airports, public hospitals, dams. However, sometimes the demolition or the tearing down can also be regarded as a project of infrastructure.
The demolition of Kowloon walled city, one of the most mysterious places in Hong Kong can be seen as such a case. Originally built to be a Chinese military fort, the walled city became an enclave the New Territory was leased to the UK. It then became an ungoverned chaotic complex. Hong Kong police were not allowed to intervene while the British police have no interest to intervene. Its special feature made it into a shelter for refugees, poor migrants, drug dealers and many other illegal activities. Since more and more people were coming and settled down in the walled city, it was constantly in construction with informal network of staircases and passageways. The original low-rise complex was finally extended to more than 10 storeys and was composed of roughly 350 buildings. The extremely hard and crowded living conditions also resulted in special community culture. People rely on each other and were in a close relationship. Due to safety consideration and the area’s development project, the walled city was demolished in 1994 and was turned into a memorial part in 1995. Many residences had to leave this home (for some of them, it was also their working space) and find alternative places to live. Many oral history projects have been down and a lot of former residents expressed a nostalgic feeling towards the walled city while it was seen as a source of sin and a threat for the city by those outsiders.
After its demolition, the Kowloon Walled city has become a theme for many authors, filmmakers and game designers for its special culture, history and architecture style.
For more information:
Documentaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EacVa0Ge1sM
games based on the walled city
https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/news/theres-a-new-kowloon-walled-city-vr-game-available-080918
https://laughingsquid.com/cat-exploring-hong-kong-kowloon-walled-city/
https://www.bilibili.com/video/av82435910?from=search&seid=294516577693920706
Contributed by WenruiLi on 17/02/2020
