Almshouse old kowloon city 1921 1923

The buildings in the 1922 photo were likely the former "yamen" or administrative buildings from the Qing period. After the New Territories lease and in the decades thereafter, the buildings were used for different purposes - a school, clinic and an almshouse for the elderly and the sick. Interestingly, "Almshouse" is inscribed on the lintel to the entrance. 

Information on the former "yamen" buildings at: https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/monuments/kowloon/monuments_63/index.html and a supplementary read at: https://mediakron.bc.edu/edges/the-yamen-an-inquiry-into-identity-and-place-in-the-kowloon-walled-city/devils-paradise-1900-1992

I'm not sure the building in the above photo is the Yamen - size and location is wrong. The building was very close to the eastern wall of the city

A video I have from the  1930s shows this whole area of the walled city has been cleared. This 1925 map shows what I believe to be the location of the above alms house was proposed for a new hospital. I'm unsure if it was actually built:

Hi There,

The old Yamen building still exist in the park today.  But it did not look exactly the same at the phoyo above.

T

Thanks for the map and comments. Likewise, unsure about the proposed hospital. With regard to the almshouse, I note the following in the Church Missionary Review Vol. 58 for 1907:

"In the Church of Holy Trinity, Kowloon, a white marble font perpetuates the memory of Miss Ada Finney, and at the same time is an eloquent witness to the growth of the Church in that district. At the dedication of the font last year, I baptized fourteen persons at the request of the native clergyman, and pointed out to the congregation how things had changed since Miss Finney worked in Kowloon some years before, when service was conducted in a small native house in one of the narrow streets. Now, in the addition to the church and school on the hill, we have a large almshouse  for the native poor, a boys' day and boarding school in buildings which were once old yamens inside the walls of old Kowloon City."

Source: Ten Years in South China Penned by W. Bannister, 12 June 1907. 

Yes, the building(s) in the main photo bears no resemblance to the re-constructed buildings in the current Kowloon Walled City Park.

A postcard of buildings in Kowloon Walled City. An enlarged view of the main photo.

Hi There,

Went to the park earlier and found the exhibits showe there were actually more than one yamen in the walled city.    The Almshouse was one of them ony.  There are also a photo of the Almshouse shown in the 1990's when the high-rises were being demolished.  It was the same as the photo above.

The current yamen building in the park is likely a rebuilt\remodolling of sort using existing building elements

T

Hi there,

On location there is a model\scrulpture showing the Yamen surrounded by the high-rises.  

T

ps  sorry, the photo was over-exposed, but it is still able to show the building group where the missin occupies, hence the almshouse and others.  This model\sculpture was charcoal grey in colour.

Found a similar image to the main photo at: https://mediakron.bc.edu/edges/the-yamen-an-inquiry-into-identity-and-place-in-the-kowloon-walled-city/maps-of-the-yamen-over-time

I've made a Place page for the building, and added some more photos: https://gwulo.com/node/58926