Kowloon, compressed city

Kowloon (nine dragons) was an isolated tiny piece of land under China’s sovereignty within the territory of the former colonial territory of Hong Kong (an enclave). In addition to Beijing’s lack of interest in this territory, this situation favoured this land to become a lawless no-man’s-land.

People started to build their homes by themselves in this formerly walled territory without any kind of professional help. In the end, this area of 0.026 km² became absolutely crammed.

Constructions were built just one above another making them higher and higher and the situation became critical in the late 80’s. In 1987, when the bulldozing of Kowloon was decided, it is estimated that it had reached 50,000 inhabitants.

The evacuation process delayed the demolition until the start of the 90s, which took place in 1993. The 33,000 remaining inhabitants were relocated and they received economic aid. During the last years of its existence, when Kowloon had become mostly abandoned, a movie was filmed inside it.

Kowloon was administered by its own inhabitants, who had to deal with galloping levels of criminal activity within its limits and even with Hong Kong’s mafias.

Nowadays, the area formerly occupied by the packed and labyrinthine Kowloon hosts a park.