30
泼
in in Evel. 9.
of the village. It will be noted that the formation level is fer above the ground level of the village houses.
Photograph A shews in the foreground a portion of the belt of cultivation and in the right background the tidal flata
of Kowloon Bay. At the right-centre are blocks of tenement
houses built at the new levels on what was formerly
cultivation, and at the left-centre the native township
known as Kowloon City.
8.
Development of New Kowloon by the process
described above continued slowly for a number of years; but,
as far back as 1907, speculators were already in the field
paying unheard of prices for agricultural land lying on the projected lines of development. By the end of 1921 the continued disorders in Kuangtung, from which Hong Kong
offered a safe haven of refuge, had raised the pressure on
the Colony's housing accommodation to a dangerous pitch, so
much so that the Government was compelled to resort to the vexatious expedient of restricting rents by legislation. A wild boom in land speculation arose. Blocks of property and vacant land were sold and re-sold many times over in a fev months, each time at a profit. No particular capital or Inowledge was required. In one case an unemployed clerk speculated to the extent of over $80,000 on a legacy of $3,000. The Public Works Department was overwhelmed with applications for new lots. In these circumstances it was imperative that a comprehensive scheme and a clear policy of development should be formulated.
9.
Accordingly, in January 1922, a Town Planning Committee was appointed and the final result of its labours is shown in the enclosed key plan. This scheme deals with the problem of New Kowloon in what is, I submit, the only practicable manner viz., it provides for the filling to drainable levels of the cultivated swamps and tidal flats by
cutting down the foothills. As will be seen from
photographs
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