Hong Kong’s 1953 Shek Kip Mei Disaster

Writer - Nicholas

Photographer - Nicholas

Posted May 30, 2025

The 1953 Shek Kip Mei Disaster is undoubtedly one of the most devastating events in Hong Kong's history.  On an evening that ought to have been filled with Christmas cheer and celebration, a sweeping fire enveloped the Shek Kip Mei squatter area, burning for hours. It left two people dead and over 50,000 homeless.

The aftermath of the devastation altered the trajectory of Hong Kong’s Housing development and birthed the public housing system, which has continued to evolve and develop to this day.

Over 70 years later, the Hong Kong 1953 Shek Kip Mei Disaster remains a devastating memory, a pivotal moment, and a foundation upon which Hong Kong’s public housing revolution is built.

The Genesis of the Disaster: The Problem of Squatters

Before the fire outbreak, Hong Kong was neck-deep in an accommodation crisis and had not seemed to find a solution to its growing population. Between 1945 and the 1950s, Hong Kong’s population had increased from 600,000 to 2 million as refugees fled the Chinese Civil War and found a safe haven in the city. With no place to stay, the refugees built huts and settlements in unoccupied areas such as roadsides and uphill lands. Most of these huts were made of wood, eventually fueling the ravaging 1953 fire.

By the end of 1953, an estimated 300,000 people lived in squatter areas scattered across Hong Kong, with Shek Kip Mei being one of these squatter settlements. Like the other squatter areas, Shek Kip Mei was filthy, featuring a terrible sewage system, a lack of fire service, and other issues that made the living conditions beyond precarious. The settlers used kerosene or oil stoves for lighting and rudimentary stoves for cooking, making them a target for fire disasters.

Although fire outbreaks were common in the squatter areas and often destroyed hundreds of squatter homes at a time, nothing could have prepared the residents of Shek Kip Mei for the fire disaster on the night of December 25th, 1953, and how it would change their lives forever.

The 1953 Shek Kip Mei Fire

On the night of December 25th, 1953, a bucket of molten rubber was accidentally knocked over in one of the informal workshops. It spilled on a kerosene stove and burst into flames. Within seconds, the hut was ablaze. Propelled by the stiff night breeze, the fire spread rapidly, enveloping nearby structures. 

The Park Tin Upper village was the first area to be affected, and a massive part of it was destroyed in a matter of minutes. The flammable materials and the cramped condition of the huts fueled the fire even more, and it took firefighters hours to get the fire under control. 

The fire that broke out by 9:30 pm was eventually extinguished at 4:30 am the next day. Two lives had been lost, and over 50,000 people were homeless. This unprecedented devastation left the colonial government with no other option but to face the monumental housing and displacement crisis head-on, and it had to do something quickly.

Resettlement: The Government’s Response to the Disaster

In the wake of the fire, the Hong Kong government could no longer afford to keep its hands off the housing sector. It had to get involved in providing housing to settlers and citizens alike, as the realities before it could no longer be ignored.

Despite some thousands of settlers finding shelter with friends or relatives, over 20,000 people were displaced, homeless, and destitute – they took to the street again, building sheds and shelters by the roadside, awaiting more permanent accommodation. 

The colonial government of Hong Kong began distributing relief money and necessities to the displaced victims. Despite spending up to USD 50,000 daily on emergency relief, the problem was far from being solved. The first settlement built after the disaster was Bowring Bungalows, where the displaced people were housed, but it wouldn’t be a permanent abode for them.

In April 1954, the Urban Council’s emergency committee recommended establishing a fund to construct multi-story resettlement buildings to accommodate squatters and victims of natural disasters. Realizing what needed to be done and determined to get it done, the Resettlement Department was established in 1954. Its responsibility was to ensure settler resettlement and oversee squatter clearances throughout Hong Kong. 

The Birth of Public Housing in Hong Kong: The Mark Blocks 

In the months and subsequently years following the fire, the Hong Kong government created a resettlement housing for Sheh Kip Mei, which became known as the Mark Blocks.

The Mark I Blocks, the first group of houses, were multi-story buildings, each 7-storey tall, and were completed in 1954. They were designed to be fireproof, but they lacked in many areas, including space. The first 8 blocks of 120-square-foot flats had shared kitchens and washrooms and were uncomfortable for the inhabitants. It became apparent that the government prioritized avoiding fire outbreaks and typhoons over the comfort of settlers at the time.

Between 1954 and 1964, over 140 Mark I blocks were constructed on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Long-Term Housing Solutions: The Hong Kong Housing Authority is Established 

A voluntary organization, the Hong Kong Housing Society, began constructing low-cost rental estates for low-income earners with subsidies from the government. The government also established the Hong Kong Housing Authority in 1954 to implement longer-term housing solutions to improve the living environment of burgeoning middle and low-income citizens in Hong Kong.  Unlike the Mark I blocks, the low-cost housing facilities had better facilities. The flats were self-contained, with a kitchen, bathroom, and balcony, which offered a higher standard of living than the Mark I blocks.. However, due to poor funding, the buildings constructed by the housing authority took a long time to complete, as they could not match the pace of the resettlement buildings.

In early 1961, the Mark II blocks were introduced, featuring more spacious flats and including amenities. The first of these blocks was built in Tung Tau Tsuen. Comprising seven or eight-story buildings, they featured four flats of 28.8 square meters each, with taps, a kitchen, and a balcony on each floor. The government of Hong Kong continued its efforts to expand its public housing program, laying a foundation for a sustainable housing solution in the city.

By the 1970s, the Hong Kong Housing Authority decided to improve the Mark I blocks, making them more habitable for the residents. They removed the partition walls of the back-to-back cubicles on the blocks, creating self-contained, more extensive flats with ensuite toilets. The common corridor was also enclosed to offer a private balcony for each flat used for cooking.

The Mei Mo House: History Surviving Till Today

The redevelopment of Shek Kip Mei Estate took a turn in the 1990s when the Housing Authority decided, once again, to redevelop a part of the estate. All dilapidated resettlement blocks were demolished, leaving only Block 41, also known as the Mei Ho House, which was among the first Mark I blocks constructed in 1954.

The Antiquities Advisory Board granted the Mei Mo house historic building status, and the government of Hong Kong decided to preserve it. It was converted into a youth hostel with a museum on public housing history attached to it. Mei Mo house stands today, and visitors continue to learn about the Shek Kip Mei Disaster and the area's history whenever they visit.

While the Mei Mo house remains standing, all older residential blocks were lined up for redevelopment in four stages. The first stage of development, completed in 2006, involved the demolition of several 7-story blocks and the construction of two new housing blocks in their place.  At its inception, this four-staged development aims to provide up to 6,600 rental units to house up to 17,400 residents. 

Shek Kip Mei Disaster 71 Years On A New Era for Hong Kong

Over 70 years later, the 1953 Shek Kip Mei fire remains a defining moment in Hong Kong's history.

The post-Shek Kip Mei fire response showcases the resilience of the Hong Kong people to rebuild from destruction. It remains a reminder of the importance of affordable and sustainable housing for everyone – from Hong Kong to the world.