In the early 20th century, Leung Yan-am () from Namgong village (稔岡) near
Mount Sai Chiu in
Namhoi,
Guangdong Province spread the influence of Wong Tai Sin to
Wan Chai in Hong Kong. Wong Tai Sin was obscure and largely unknown before Leung took it to Hong Kong. Leung arrived in Hong Kong in 1915. He rented an apartment in Wan Chai, and set up an altar to Wong Tai Sin in his apartment. For the image of
Wong Tai Sin, he used a picture of Wong Tai Sin which he brought from Namgong village. By March 1916, he opened an herbal medicine shop nearby and moved the altar to the back of the shop. Customers coming to his shop could pray at Wong Tai Sin's altar and seek advice for their ailments. Leung would then fill their prescriptions. The popularity of Wong Tai Sin then began to grow. However, in 1918, Leung's shop was destroyed by fire. Then, Leung moved back to Namgong as he was now 57 or 58 years old and only could live for three years. It is likely that these men had been clients of Leung's medical prescription shrine in Wan Chai, and had become believers as a result of the benefits they believed could be obtained from these prescriptions. The popularity of Wong Tai Sin Temple had rapidly been grown since that time. According to the then regulations, Sik Sik Yuen used to be a private shrine and only Taoists or their family members were allowed. It was not until 1934, Sik Sik Yuen formally applied to the government for opening the Temple to the public during the 1st lunar month of every Chinese New Year. Finally, Sik Sik Yuen was allowed to open completely to the public in 1956. In 1956, the government proposed to reclaim the temple for public housing development. Chairman Wong Wan Tin's pushed for the temple to remain open. Charging a 10-cent admission fee at the main entrance, fees were donated to the
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. To facilitate administration and management, the temple was registered as a limited company of charitable nature in 1965, and was granted the immunity of not having to add the word "Limited" to the organisation's name. The temple also is the first Taoist temple allowed by the government to organise Taoist weddings and issue marriage certificates. ==Facilities==