39
also created an atmosphere of vitality and purpose in an otherwise rather sleepy and desolate place.
Meanwhile, parts of the Walled City fell into decay. The south wall soon began crumbling, and by the mid-20s, the Commodore's office, once the grandest building there and used for a time in the early twentieth century as a plague hospital, was in complete ruins. By the '30s, the sixty or so domestic dwellings were mostly in poor repair. Its vegetable gardens, pig farms and traditional crafts gave the "City" a rural flavour.
57
Until the outbreak of war in 1941, it remained a tourist attraction. Foreigners came to seek “a little bit of Old China”. Invariably, Chinese guide books to Hong Kong recommended it for nostalgic, historical sightseeing. Local residents also found it worthwhile photographic material. It must have been rather pleasant to stroll in the shade of ancient trees, take photographs before the cannon and historical buildings, and admire the many inscriptions in them. One inhabitant even made a living by selling copies of the City's inscriptions to visitors.
The rapid development outside the wall from the 1910s onwards - the Kowloon Bay reclamation, the construction of tenement houses, shops and factories, and eventually the airport - passed the City by. Reclamation left it further and further inland. For a while after 1899, the customs station was used as a police station, but in the late 1920s, it had to be abandoned in favour of a site by the new waterfront. The Lung-chin jetty fell into disuse, and only the end portion could be used to serve a ferry running between Hong Kong Island, Hunghom and Kowloon City. After the War, the Yaumati Ferry Company built its Kowloon City Pier near the site.
The Kowloon fort was in decay. The cannon suffered various fates. The British had dismantled them, presumably out of distrust of the Chinese. Some were reportedly sold to old metal dealers. Two were displayed outside the Water Police Station, and four outside the new Kowloon City Police Station. Two more, one weighing 4,000 catties, the other 5,000 catties, were abandoned near the South Gate and much photographed. Apparently these
39
also created an atmosphere of vitality and purpose in an otherwise rather sleepy and desolate place.
Meanwhile, parts of the Walled City fell into decay. The south wall soon began crumbling, and by the mid-20s, the Commodore's office, once the grandest building there and used for a time in the early twentieth century as a plague hospital, was in complete ru- ins." By the '30s, the sixty or so domestic dwellings were mostly in poor repair. Its vegetable gardens, pig farms and traditional crafts gave the "City" a rural flavour, $7
57
Until the outbreak of war in 1941, it remained a tourist attrac- tion, Foreigners came to seek “a little bit of Old China”. " Invari- ably, Chinese guide books to Hong Kong recommended it for nostalgic, historical sightseeing." Local residents also found it worthwhite photographic material. It must have been rather pleas- ant to stroll in the shade of ancient trees, take photographs before the cannon and historical buildings, and admire the many inscrip- tions in them. One inhabitant even made a living by selling copies of the City's inscriptions to visitors.6
The rapid development outside the wall from the 1910s on- wards - the Kowloon Bay reclamation, the construction of tene- ment houses, shops and factories, and eventually the airport passed the City by. Reclamation left it further and further inland. For a while after 1899, the customs station was used as a police station, but in the late 1920s, it had to be abandoned in favour of a site by the new waterfront." The Lung-chin jetty fell into disuse, and only the end portion could be used to serve a ferry running between Hong Kong Island, Hunghom and Kowloon City. After the War, the Yaumati Ferry Company built its Kowloon City Pier near the site.
The Kowloon fort was in decay. The cannon suffered various fates. The British had dismantled them, presumably out of dis- trust of the Chinese. Some were reportedly sold to old metal deal- ers. Two were displayed outside the Water Police Station, and four outside the new Kowloon City Police Station.* Two more, one weighing 4,000 catties, the other 5,000 catties, were abandoned near the South Gate and much photographed. Apparently these
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