Text｜Ye Deping
The "Kowloon Bay Reclamation Project" by Kai Tak Trading Co., Ltd. is divided into three phases. After the "first phase" was successfully completed in 1920, the next year, the "second phase" continued on the east coast of Kowloon Bay. However, from the very beginning, the seamen's strike in 1922 and the provincial-Hong Kong strike in 1925 brought Hong Kong's economy to the bottom, and the Kai Tak company also fell into financial difficulties. develop.
Kai Tak Airport in 1947. (Photo from the Hong Kong Government Archives)
The potential of Kai Tak as an airport
Hong Kong has many hills and less flat land. At that time, there were relatively large areas of flat land, only Yuen Long Plain and Kowloon Bay were the "new reclaimed land". Relatively speaking, the land of Kowloon Bay is close to the water and the sea, which is favorable for the use of seaplanes. Therefore, in 1926, the then Hong Kong Observatory Clementi clearly stated in his report to the British Colonial Department: "There is no such ideal place to build an airport in Hong Kong and the New Territories. If it can't be done, then there is no other choice." In addition to this reason, a commentary published in the Hongkong Daily Press in August 1928 further analyzed the reason: "(Kai Tak) Airport The location is very ideal, because it combines a large aircraft landing field and an excellent water airport, and there are no such airports in major European cities. London's Croydon Airport has not been able to The status of amphibious use is declining. If an amphibious airport cannot be built in Kai Tak, Hong Kong will need to build two airports separately. When completed, Hong Kong will have one of the best airports in the world.” (Song Xuanlin: Hong Kong A Century of Aviation")
In 1991, a bird's-eye view of the airport runway.(Photo from the Hong Kong Government Archives)
In fact, as early as May 1924, American Harry Abbott had already flown in the first phase of the newly reclaimed land, becoming the first person to fly in Kai Tak since records began. people. The following year, Abbott leased the 60-acre land from Kai Tak Company to set up "The Abbott School of Aviation". Although the school closed down after only a few months of operation, it has undoubtedly promoted the development of Hong Kong Airlines business.
The Birth of Kai Tak Airport
In 1927, the British Hong Kong Government purchased the first and second phases of new reclamation from Kai Tak Company, and took over the originally scheduled third phase of the reclamation project. At the same time, the Royal Air Force Kai Tak Base was established on the first phase of the newly reclaimed land (next to Kai Tak Bin). The prototype of Kai Tak becoming an airport finally came out.
In 1968, a 10-year blueprint for the development of the international airport was planned. (Photo from the Hong Kong Government Archives)
In 1930, the third phase of the reclamation project was completed. At this time, the airport land includes the first, second and third phases of new reclamation, and the area also reaches 205 mu. And, officially named "Kai Tak Airport".
The view from the south of the runway of Kai Tak Airport in 1960. (Photo from the Hong Kong Government Archives)
With the birth of Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong's aviation industry has also thrived. In 1933, the Far Eastern Aviation School was established at Kai Tak Airport, and aviation education in Hong Kong officially began. In 1934, the Kai Tak civil hangar and office building were opened, and the civil aviation business in Hong Kong began to sprout. On March 24, 1936, the British Imperial Airways "Dorado" biplane departing from London arrived at Kai Tak Airport. Later, the official maiden flight of Imperial Airlines Hong Kong to Penang, Malaysia marked the official entry of Hong Kong into the era of civil aviation.
The viaduct next to Kai Tak Airport in the early 1970s. (Photo from the Hong Kong Government Records Service)
The fire brigade stationed at the airport in 1962.(Photo from the Hong Kong Government Archives)
Kai Tak Airport is close to residential buildings (source: HK01)
At this time, Kai Tak Airport was still in its infancy, and the facilities were rather rudimentary. In order to cope with the increasingly heavy military and civilian business, the government has successively added a number of facilities, such as military hangars with control towers, communication facilities, fire engines, and police posts. With its geographical advantage, Hong Kong established regular flights with China Airlines in November 1936. Soon, passenger and cargo shipping between the two places has become an important part of Hong Kong's aviation business.
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