Kowloon City up to Song Dynasty

Located in the historically significant Kowloon City district, Kai Tak Sports Park is built upon a rich and storied past.

The district’s legacy is celebrated at Kai Tak Sports Park as we dedicate ourselves to passing it on to future generations while cultivating a wider love for sports and providing high-quality facilities for community use.

The earliest historical records of today’s Kowloon City date back to the Han Dynasty and the Nanyue Kingdom during which salt pans spanned the coast of Kowloon Bay. By the early Southern Song Dynasty, a government salt pan was administered by imperial officials in the northwest of Kowloon Bay.

The most important link between Kowloon City and the Song Dynasty was its final Emperor Zhao Shi, and his younger sibling Zhao Bing. Escaping from the invading Mongols, the royal brothers made their way south to Kowloon, setting up court there for a few months. After the dynasty was overthrown, residents of the area inscribed ‘Sung Wong Toi’ on a boulder at Sacred Hill, meaning 'Terrace of the Song Emperors' to commemorate this page of history. The remain of the boulder is now displayed in Sung Wong Toi Garden at the cross-section of Ma Tau Chung Road and Sung Wong Toi Road.

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

Coastal Defense in Qing Dynasty

Kowloon City's strategic location led to its becoming a military post in the Qing Dynasty. During the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, in response to the need to defend against pirate activities in Kowloon Bay, the County Magistrate proposed relocating Fat Tong Mun Fort to the coast near Kowloon Tsai. This work was completed in 1811.

After the First Opium War, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain. Kowloon became all the more important and the Qing government deliberately planned Kowloon Walled City as separate from Hong Kong Island, but only by the harbour. Within the Kowloon Walled City, a magistracy and military barracks were established to defend the territory.

The Second Opium War saw another defeat of Qing forces, and subsequently the area south of today’s Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to Britain. Despite this, the Kowloon Walled City Magistrate continued to operate.

Between 1873 and 1875, to accommodate the docking of customs and naval vessels for soldiers guarding the Kowloon Walled City, the Qing government built a ferry pier, which was named 'Lung Tsun Stone Bridge', at the coast of Kowloon Bay. Lung Tsun Stone Bridge was an important gateway to the Kowloon Walled City from the late 19th to 20th century.

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

The Birth of New Land

Hong Kong saw an influx of immigrants from mainland China in the mid-1910s, after the Revolution of 1911. Chinese entrepreneurs Ho Kai and Au Tack spearheaded a new residential project, proposing to the government the reclamation of around 200 acres of land along the Kowloon Bay coastline (today’s Prince Edward East and Kwun Tong Road). The plan was to build residences in the reclaimed area to attract affluent local Chinese and rich émigrés.

After Ho Kai's passing in 1914, other entrepreneurs took over the negotiation work with the government, and the reclamation project was commenced by Kai Tack Land Investment Co. Ltd., which was named after Ho Kai and Au Tack.

The reclamation project was planned to be carried out in three phases. The first began in 1916 and saw the building of 200 mansions collectively known as Kai Tack Bund by 1920. 

The second phase commenced in 1921. However, in the following years, Hong Kong saw several territory-wide strikes, including the 1925 Canton-Hong Kong General Strike, during which many workers leave Hong Kong and went back to their hometowns in mainland China. Instability and economic recession, coupled with other factors including lukewarm response to the Kai Tak Bund project, meant further development was halted. 

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

The First Airplanes

While the Kai Tak Bund project was suspended, its prime location set the stage for what would become Hong Kong's world-famous airport.

In the 1920s, seaplanes gained immense popularity, and the vacant land east of the nullah from the first phase of reclamation attracted flying pioneers from around the globe. In 1924, American pilot Harry Abbott made history by flying a biplane in Kai Tak. The following year, he leased an unused area of Kai Tak Bund to establish a flying school; however, the school ceased operations within the same year due to financial difficulties.

Around that time, the government decided to build a Royal Air Force base in Hong Kong. The newly reclaimed area was particularly well-suited given Kowloon Bay's calm waters and strategic location, and there had already been landing gear for use by seaplanes. In 1927, the government purchased the reclaimed land and took over the reclamation works.

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

Early Expansions

During the Second World War, Hong Kong fell into the hands of the Japanese, who would later expand the airport for their own military and transportation purposes. Kai Tak Bund and numerous villages around the Kowloon Walled City were razed to the ground. The wall of Kowloon City and the Sacred Hill (where the Sung Wong Toi boulder was located) were destroyed for stone slabs to construct the expanded runway. 

Lung Tsun Stone Bridge was completely buried as a result of airport expansion and reclamation.

After the war in 1945, aviation technology and commercial flight developed rapidly around the globe. The government began to rebuild Kai Tak Airport whilst developing new, permanent facilities to cope with demand and boost economic growth.

(Image Courtesy of Information Services Department)

Hong Kong's First International Airport

In 1954, the government approved further expansion of Kai Tak Airport with a new runway and terminal building to accommodate modern jetliners and increased aviation activity. The final layout comprised a promontory on reclaimed land extending into Kowloon Bay.

In September 1958, a newly paved runway, known as Runway 13/31, was officially opened. Kai Tak Airport was renamed Hong Kong International.

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

The World-Famous Runway 13/31

In 1975, Runway 13/31 was extended to 3,390 metres to meet the long-haul flight requirements of the 31 airlines operating in Hong Kong. 

Due to the airport’s unusual location—nestled in a mountainous and built-up neighbourhood—Runway 13/31 was considered one the most challenging runways in the world.

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

Planning for Airport Relocation

Hong Kong's economy continued to flourish in the 1980s, which were also the boom years of Kai Tak Airport. Not only was it a landmark in Kowloon, it was also part and parcel of Hong Kong’s soaring economic and tourism growth as one of the crossroads of the world.
 
The airport was expected to become saturated by the mid-1990s. In 1989, the government announced that a replacement airport would be built at Chek Lap Kok, off the north coast of Lantau Island. 

As passenger and cargo traffic increased exponentially, Kai Tak’s original single runway and limited hours made finding an alternative location for a new airport imperative. 

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

The Last Decade of Kai Tak Airport

Farewell to Kai Tak Airport

The airport at Kai Tak was closed in July 1998. The new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok was officially opened in the same month.

(Image Courtesy of Government Records Service)

Kai Tak as an Airfield

The airfield came into being by 1930, and as civil aviation started to grow internationally, the Hong Kong government began to develop civil aviation facilities, paving the way for the development of Kai Tak into Hong Kong’s aviation hub. On 24 March 1936, Kai Tak welcomed its first commercial flight, Dorado, which flew from Penang, Malaysia to Hong Kong. (Photo Courtesy of The Civil Aviation Department)

Ever-changing Urbanscapes

In the years that followed, Kowloon underwent tremendous changes due to reclamation and urban development. Kai Tak, which was originally located on the outskirts of the city. At the same time, the airport continued to expand.

(Image Courtesy of HKSAR Government)

Technical Feasibility Study

On 5 November 2012, the Home Affairs Bureau finalised an initial technical feasibility study for a multi-purpose complex at the former airport, a key project proposed by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2006 as part of the Kai Tak Development mega-project.

Award of Tender

After an open tendering exercise, the contract for the design, construction and operation of the Kai Tak Sports Park was awarded to the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited, which was established specifically for this project.

Groundbreaking

Construction of Kai Tak Sports Park commenced.