The world was ushered into the age of civil aviation after the Second World War. The advanced aviation technology developed during wartime was transformed from military to civil use. New technical means, such as longhaul aircraft and jetliner, became increasingly popular as a form of public transport. In Hong Kong, with its growing economy, the demand for air transport was steadily rising to the point where the “old Kai Tak” obviously could not meet. The new era was calling for a new, modern airport. In 1946, the Hong Kong government started looking into the possibility of building a new airport, sorting out places like Kam Tin, Stanley Bay, Hau Hoi Wan, Chek Lap Kok, Kwun Tong and the Lamma Island for consideration. Tentatively, Stanley Bay in Hong Kong Island and Ping Shan, which adjoined Hau Hoi Wan, were opted for, but neither plan was realized. The geographic limitation of Stanley Bay required large-scale reclamation for the airport construction, but Hong Kong at that time had not to extend Kai Tak, a massive land reclamation project was launched in Kowloon. It created a large land area, which contributed to the process of urban sprawl from the Yau Tsim Mong district to Kai Tak aside from the problems of migration explosion and serious housing shortage. During the 1950s and 1960s Kowloon was considerably changed; a large migrated population settled in different places of Kowloon as a number of resettlement estates were established. Kwun Tong, moreover, was made the first “satellite town”.

 

 

 

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