History

The earliest historical record of Sham Shui Po can be dated back to Han dynasty, which has been proofed by the archeological discovery in Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb which is located in Cheung Sha Wan, Sham Shui Po District. According to the composition in the Han Tombs, pottery house models and bronze wares, it is clear that Sham Shui Po since then had already been under the influence of the Lingnan culture.

From 1842 to 1898, Sham Shui Po was the border region of British colony and Qing territory. After 1898, after Qing China leased the New Territories to British, Sham Shui Po became the important transit point from Hong Kong Island to the New Territories. Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier had provided one of the most important transportation services between Central and Kowloon Peninsula from 1924 to 1970s.

From 1941, Hong Kong was under the occupation of Japanese Army. Sham Shui Po became concentration camp where prisoners were imprisoned. The poor environment there had a very negative effect on people’s health. Infections were rampant and many of the prisoners dead since there is no efficient medical facilities.

After the second World War, Hong Kong economy started to take off. Sham Shui Po in this period was among the major manufacturing industrial centers, which attracted a large number of immigrants from mainland China to work and settle there. Sham Shui Po thus become a district with dense population. It was also in 1950s after the major fire in Shek Kip Mei, the colonial government launched the first public housing program in Hong Kong. Mei Ho House as the last remaining example of a “Mark II” Building in a single-block configuration is now preserved as historical remains from the earliest public housing project.

Since the 1980s, along with the economic transformation in Hong Kong, manufacturing industries were relocated to places with cheaper land rental rates and labor costs. Sham Shui Po thus lost its former splendor.