The famous Kowloon Walled City, located at the
north-eastern corner of the Kowloon peninsula, can be traced back
to the Sung Dynasty where it once served as a watch post defending
the area against pirates and managing the production of salt. It
was rebuilt as a fort in the mid-1800s after the ceding of Hong
Kong Island to Britain in 1842. In the Convention for the Extension
of Hong Kong Territory of 1898, the New Territories was leased to
Britain for 99 years, but it excluded the Walled City. It stated
that China could continue to keep troops there, so long as they did
not interfere with Britain's temporary rule.
After WWII, squatters began to occupy the Walled
City, resisting several attempts by Britain in 1948 to drive them
out. The Walled City became a haven for crooks and drug addicts, as
the Hong Kong Police had no right to enter the City. Mainland China
refused to take care of it for various reasons and Britain had had
enough, and simply adopted a 'hands-off' policy. High-rise
tenements were built without authority and completely lacking
proper foundations mushroomed cheek by jowl over almost the whole
site. The streets were illuminated by fluorescent lights, as
sunlight rarely reached the lower levels and the Walled City with
its dark alleyways became a notorious nest of drug divans, criminal
hide-outs, vice dens and even cheap, unlicensed dentists.
Over time, both the British and the Chinese
governments found the massive, anarchic city to be increasingly
intolerable - despite the low reported crime rate. The quality of
life in the city, sanitary conditions in particular, was far behind
the rest of Hong Kong. After the Joint Declaration in 1984, the PRC
agreed with British authorities to demolish the City and resettle
its inhabitants. The mutual decision to tear down the walled city
was made in 1987.
The once notorious Kowloon Walled City was
finally demolished and the Kowloon Walled City Park was built in
its place.
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It is a beautifully designed park, I recommend
taking a stroll around the surounding area after you have found the
cache. Please be stealth. Enjoy your time here!
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Congrat to Tapelo for the FTF!