In the crowded alleyways and streets of Hong Kong, where everyone jostles for space,
the increasing number of visitors from mainland China and overseas means that space is at an absolute premium,
which is why the redevelopment of one of Hong Kong's most famous pieces of real estate is so important.
I'm talking about Kai Tak.
The legendary landings at the old Kai Tak Airport delighted plane buffs and scared white-knuckled fliers.
The planes, banking sharply over low-rise apartment blocks before touching down on runway 13.
And whatever happened to this famous strip of land? Turns out, not much.
Today, nearly 15 years after the airport closed, you can still see the center line and the remains of the lights.
But Kai Tak is only now being developed,
which is extraordinary in a city where land is at such a premium and where building takes place so quickly.
The development that's happening is at the other end of the runway. Instead of planes, now they're preparing for some of the world's largest passenger ships.
So, this is going to be the cruise terminal, is that right?
Yes. It's 800 meter[s] long.
That's about half a mile. The cruise terminal is set to open in the middle of next year and is the first piece of this massive redevelopment project.
Apartment blocks will follow, and a park, some shopping, and perhaps someday a stadium.
How long do you think it will take before this whole thing will be finished?
For the public investment, public infrastructure, about 2021.
2021?
Yes, about ten years from now.
That's a long time, especially in a fast-paced city like this.
Keep in mind, though, this is a site that's roughly eight times the size of London's Canary Wharf or New York's Battery Park.
While the work continues on Kai Tak, the government is looking to expand even more by reclaiming land with 25 proposed projects.
That's how Kai Tak came to be in the first place, a precious piece of man-made land, reclaimed from the Victoria Harbor.
So is the current airport, built out from an existing island in the South China Sea.
The tallest skyscrapers, they sit on reclaimed land as well, as does the convention center. You get the idea.
About five percent of Hong Kong used to be part of the sea. It's hard to miss all the cranes these days.
Reclaiming land is a way of life in Hong Kong.
They've been doing it since the mid 19th century, when this was the original shoreline.
Since then, look at how much has been taken back.
All these buildings on reclaimed land. But we've got further to go.
This is amongst the newest reclaimed land in Hong Kong, and they're still going.
Here we are at the current water's edge. But how long will it remain so?
Even though people could use a bit of breathing room, it remains a contentious issue.
The Hong Kong should have a more strategic vision;?that?they need to have a plan... better planning of the land use.
There's still plenty of land that you can use in the New Territories, the rural area.
I really hope that the government will just stop here and think twice before they really proceed to use reclamation to enhance the land supply in Hong Kong.
It's certainly controversial. But as long as people want to live and work in the heart of Hong Kong,
then once places like Kai Tak are fully developed, there's only one way this Future City can grow, and that's out into the sea.