In 1950s, large amount of people escape from wars in China and move to Hong Kong, they built squatters in less developed area as Shek Kip Mei. The squatters were densely built and lack of maintenance, caused a big risk of health and secure problem. In 1953, whole of the squatters in Shek Kip Mei are flattened by fire. Government had eventually build this estate for resettlement of the victim who survived and homeless with the tragedy, it starts the story of Shek Kip Mei Estate and Hong Kong public housing.
Starting from 1973, Hong Kong Housing Authority was established, and the lower part (bounded area but the top right) of the Shek Kip Mei Estate on the map were planned reconstruction, numerical coding was given (now remaining Block 19 - 24), the plan was completed with recombine of the "upper" and "lower" part of the Estate in 1984.
Redevelopment continues with increasing need of number and safety public housing and, starting from 1999, the government put forword the "comprehensive redevelopment scheme" to Shek Kip Mei Estate, the determination stronger with the landslides in that time. Up to 2007, more than 20 blocks are redeveloped. New housings built are now named with "mei" which means beauty in Chinese.
Shek Kip Mei Estate as such a unique place, the development goal are no longer unidirectional, but trying to provide a place for visiting and conservation. At the very beginning, in 2004, Block 17 and 18 was used to theme as "Shek Kip Mei People's Museum" but it closed in 2006 for redevelopment, together with other closed blocks
Block 41,also known as "Mei Ho House", It is now a Grade II Historic Building and now is under maintenance til the end of 2012. It is expected to have public housing themed museum and a hostel.
Very close to Shek Kip Mei Estate, there was Shek Kip Mei Factory Estate, it was cradle of domestic industry in Hong Kong, being emptied in 2000 and now used as Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre co-organized by Jockey Club and Hong Kong Baptist University, providing spaces for more than 100 artists, students and art groups for studio, exhibition and education use. Moreover, it also trying to make a closer link with arts and the community by organizing art events.