Do you know
the story of Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong can be dated back to 1910s?
Well…people
these days keep mentioning how modern and beautiful the Chek Lap Kok Airport is,
so why not look into the past and be reminiscent of our outdated yet classic
airport?
Where was
I…? Right.
In 1912, two
businessmen Ho Kai and Au Tak formed the Kai Tak Investment Company to reclaim
land in Kowloon for development. However, the business plan failed and the land
was later turned into runway airport for the Royal Air Force. It was not truly
an airport until its first control tower and hangar were built in 1935, with
the first domestic airline established in 1936 by the Imperial Airways. It
experienced the Second World War, and was developed into a larger airport.
The history
class ends here. But Kai Tak is not just a historical heritage; it was also
part of Hongkongers’ lives.
It’s
actually pretty fun to see an airport of that scale to be located in the middle
of an overcrowded town (not so fun for those who live near it, imagine the
noise). Thanks to that, Kai Tak was not just an airport, it also served as an
attraction to plane lovers, photographers looking for inspiration, and even
tourists.
And since
the airport was in the middle of a town, surrounded by mountains and low
residential buildings, it takes the pilots some great skill to land on such a
narrow and packed space. Even people who lived there admit that watching the
planes descending is “dramatic and breath taking”…That must have been some
great scenes.
It’s a pity
that Kai Tak caused great deal of pollution to the nearby area, and can’t keep
up with the increasing need of air traffic in Hong Kong.
It was
eventually closed on 6 July, 1998, with the last plane departed at 01:05.
Soldiers! Salutation
to Kai Tai and its irreplaceable contribution to Hong Kong!
And what do
we say to Kai Tak? Louder! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!!
“GOODBYE KAI
TAK, AND THANK YOU!!” *salute and shed manly tears*
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