History of Sham Shui Po

Hello everyone, I m Ellen. I am the historian and I am going to bring you all to experience a special journey about the past of Sham Shui Po.

The place “Sham Shui Po” always evokes cheap electronics in people mind. But the abundance of the old buildings suggest that its history goes a little further back than electronics parts. The area has been an industrial, commercial, and residential hub since 1920s.

Before 1912, Hong Kong government did not have any plan for the development of this area. The main transport there is the Tai Po Road. There is only some small scale reclamation from private sector along the Nam Cheong Street and Kwei Lin Street.

 

Since 1912, the Government started a large scale reclamation plan in this district. It levels off the Sai Kok Hill to cover Kwei Lin Street to Tokyo Street and made a ground of 9.67 hectare. Another plan started from 1919, the project extended from Tokyo Street to Lai Chi Kok. It took 10 years to complete this project. When the construction is completed,
 

 



Sham Shui Po Police Station and Barracks on Lai Chi Kok Road in 1926.

 

The area on the west of Yen Chau Street was taken over by British Military to be a barrack.  Around 1930, it changed into an industrial region.

The Pacific War began in December 1941 and the Japanese army was able to occupy Hong Kong in less than 20 days after which the Sham Shui Po Camp became a concentration camp. For lack of food and a clean environment, beriberi and dysentery became prevalent in the camp and many inmates died from the lack of proper treatment.

After the war, many immigrants from the Mainland China entered Hong Kong. The number of Sham Shui Po residents dramatically increased, giving rise to serious squatter problem.



 

View of Pei Ho Street from Ki Lung Street in 1960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Market on Shum Ning Road, Sham Shui PO in 1962

 

In the 1960s, the industries in the district developed rapidly. All kinds of public housing estates and private buildings were built in succession.



In 1975, this shows Pak Tin Estate shortly after it was built. Nam Cheong Street in the centre. Empty plots of land on the right later housed many schools and old aged homes.

 

In the  early 1980s, the population of Sham Shui Po reached nearly 500,000 and is currently the most densely populated area in Hong Kong. Its just like the Hong Kong nowadays.