“Kowloon Customs Boundary” whispers the weathered stone. This unassuming stone here in Lai Chi Kok holds a piece of Hong Kong’s fascinating past. It’s a silent witness to a time when the Kowloon Customs played a crucial role in the city’s economy and security.
The Kowloon Customs wasn’t just any customs station. Known as Xinguan or Yangguan meaning “New Customs” or “Foreigner Customs” it was managed by foreigners. This was no accident. Following the Taiping Rebellion in 1853 foreigners refused to pay tariffs to the rebels. They demanded a foreign-run customs station. Shanghai’s Jianghaiguan became the first. The success of this model led to the establishment of similar stations in treaty ports including this one in Hong Kong in 1887.
Its primary function was straightforward: imposing tariffs on opium controlling inland goods and tackling opium smuggling. The choice of Lai Chi Kok wasn’t random. Before land reclamation Lai Chi Kok sat on a hill overlooking the sea. An ideal location for a customs station.
But its story is short. The 1898 Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory shifted the border north to the Shenzhen River. The Kowloon Customs in Lai Chi Kok suddenly lost its purpose. It closed shortly after.
This stone you see today isn’t the original. The real Kowloon Customs Boundary Stone sits on a private slope. A replica stands in the Heritage Hall. However this one in its weathered glory is a tangible link to a chapter in Hong Kong’s history. It reminds us of the constant shifts in borders and the vital role of customs in shaping the city we know today. The Kowloon Customs Boundary Stone a small stone with a big story. A story of trade rebellion and the ever-changing map of Hong Kong.