Description

By N Generation

“The worst and poorest live there.” Mrs. Shum said.
A simple sentence contains the different surface of entire Kowloon Walled City from now. Kowloon Walled City as the concession of British with no government enforcement, for this reason, it became a ''heaven'' for crime and drugs. Yet, it seldom be the place to adolescents, and not even adults in Hong Kong instead of elderly which was with mildness and kindness.

"It was a no man's land."
In Kowloon Walled City, Triad groups such as the 14K and Sun Yee On hold their territory there with countless unlicensed dentist or doctor. It could be the most darkest place from the outside world .But within the walls, it's another scene. To be loyal was the most important thing for people who was living there. It seemed a big family with no blood related.

“There was even worse than Sham Shui Po in 21st century” said Mrs. Shum. Based on the old pictures, there was no any space between buildings. The flats were extremely small and there was no living room just a place of square with a bed only. Everyone was being together while having dinner in the circular dining table. Mrs.Shum remembered once there was raining,the street was flooded. Water was uprising to the knees with stools and trashes but the residents just crossed it with their feet.
Although The Kowloon Walled City was a complicated places, people who lived there were having good relationships of neighbourhood. According to Mrs. Shum, her neighbour helped her to take care of her children and they cooked alternatively for each others. Therefore, she could focus on her works and earn money in less interference. They have built good relationships under the bad condition. Until now, they are still keeping contact even the old friends are in overseas.

The Kowloon Walled City is an interesting place. It scared people from the outside world but warmed people from the inside. It is typical for us to learn about do not judge things by its surface. Somehow, people who lived there have always mentioned how loyal they were. Perhaps we do not know much things about Kowloon Walled City but it does warm our heart while listening to its story. We know about how crucial it is to be more helpful to our neighbour. Moreover, people who lived there taught us the importance of working hard. It could really change our living quality because of the thing that told by Mrs. Shum ,‘after we suffer, it will be a nice day.’

The Kowloon Walled City does make a difference to our society. As there used to be no government enforcement, the government set up Organized Crime and Triad Bureau and ICAC to reconcile the place in 70s. The crime and corruption rates have sharply decreased. Those organizations have made Hong Kong becomes a peaceful and legal place. Moreover, it calls citizens’s sense of history. Since the site has reformed as a park, we can see that there are children and elderly spend their time there. They are also interest in the historical picture and architecture. The place has reformed our hobby of spending our time in holiday too.

Ultimately, the Kowloon Walled City is now a collective memory in Hong Kong resident's heart. It has been dismantled but it is still living in many people. When we ask about the history of Kowloon Walled City, they must have a lot to talk about and show their yearning to it. In the past, people are keen to have better living quality, nowadays, although the living quality has been improved, people has lost its human touch with others. There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

School: Pooi To Middle School
TEAM
Leader: Jessica Mak Sin-ting
Reporter & photographer: Grace Chan Kei-yin
Reporter & writer: Chuang Ka-ka

CAPTIONS
1. Mrs Shum, who used to live in Kowloon Walled City, is our interviewee.

2. This is the only site has been saved in Kowloon Walled City now.

3. It shows the old surface of Kowloon Walled City which was extremely crowded and intensively built.

4. These steles were put in the front door of the old Kowloon Walled City which were saved as a landmarks.