Kowloon Walled City – Documentary, Demolition & Crime
Kowloon Walled City was a largely ungoverned and overpopulated settlement, part of present-day Kowloon in the region of Hong Kong. Originally a military fort of the Qing dynasty, the walled city became a Chinese enclave after the New Territories were leased to the United Kingdom in 1898 from China, excluding the fortified portion.Its population increased dramatically following the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. In 1990 the walled city contained an estimated 50,000 residents within its 2.6 hectares (0.026 km² ) boundaries.From 1950 to 1970, it was subject to near-total control of the local triads with high rates of prostitution, gambling, and drug abuse. In January 1987 the Hong Kong government announced plans to demolish the walled city.After an arduous e...