It is not definitively known when Law Uk was completed, but it is estimated that the house was constructed in the mid 18th-century. This was about the time when the Law family moved to Hong Kong from Bao'an County in Guangdong province. The approximate date of construction is backed up by official documents from the Qing Dynasty that dated from 1767 and 1796. The existence of these documents—which were in the Law family's possession—came to light when Law Uk was rediscovered. At the time it was built, the house was on Hong Kong Island's waterfront with Victoria Harbour. However, it is now much farther inland due to land reclamation that has been undertaken over the years.