Danny’s Take – In this series, Danny will be sharing his perspective on Hong Kong and what it was like to see a different side to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. What started as a modest trading post quickly transformed into a vibrant, metropolitan, finance capital of Asia. However, with changes and development also comes destruction and obsolescence. Growing up, my family visited Hong Kong every few years. Each time we visited the city would appear new and different. Most of these improvements are wonderful, such as the introduction of the Octopus card and the public smoking ban. However, there is a part of me that can’t help but feel nostalgic for things and places that have disappeared with time. Here is a list of things I miss most about Old Hong Kong.

1. Kowloon Walled City

The existence of a lawless slum in Hong Kong run by triads well into the 1990s is absolutely mind-boggling. Believe it or not, a place like that really existed: Kowloon Walled City. Infamous for its high rate of crime, prostitution, and drug use, Kowloon Walled City began as a military outpost in the late 19th century. After WWII, an influx of refugees inhabited the area. By the time the British government attempted to seize control of the area, thousands of people already called the city their home. In 1948, after numerous failed attempts, the government simply threw up their hands and gave up on the entire area. The wild-west of Hong Kong was born.



Top view of Kowloon City Wall – Credit: Greg Girard and Ian Lambot

Kowloon Walled City festered and thrived in the Pearl of the Orient. Rates of illegal construction skyrocketed in the 70s-80s. Living units were perilously stacked upon other units, transforming the slum into a highrise fortress nicknamed the City of Darkness. Deprived of light, the internal city was built as a network of dark hallways with leaky pipes and dangling wires. The neighborhood was one of the densest populated areas in the world. At its peak, 50,000+ residents were crammed into 6.4 acres of land.



Hallway of Kowloon City Wall – Credit: Greg Girard and Ian Lambot

Triads would run numerous brothels, gambling parlors, and opium dens within the city walls. Policemen were petrified of the area and would only enter in large groups. Despite its reputation for chaos, the city was completely self-sustaining with amenities like kindergartens, restaurants, and even dentists. Surprisingly, many of the ex-residents still speak fondly of their time living in Kowloon Walled City. To them, it was simply their home.



Children in Kowloon City Wall – Credit: Greg Girard and Ian Lambot



Butcher of Kowloon City Wall – Credit: Greg Girard and Ian Lambot

Kowloon Wall City also had significant cultural impact in mainstream media. The cult 80s martial arts film “Bloodsport” starring Jean-Claude Van Damme was one of several films set inside the city. Additionally, creators of “Batman Begins” designed their dilapidated neighborhood, “The Narrows,” with inspiration from Kowloon Walled City. Moreover, Japanese people were so inspired by the city that they recreated parts of it for a themed amusement park in Kawasaki City.



Credit: Bloodsport



Narrows from Batman Begins – Credit: Batman Begin



Credit: David from Randomwire.com



Credit: David from Randomwire.com