Poon Kwok-ling's Novel "Stone Island" Narrates Hong Kong Stories by Touching Stones
Hong Kong writer Poon Kwok-ling, despite battling illness, continues to create, releasing his latest novel "Stone Island and the First People." The work uniquely explores stones across Hong Kong, narrating the moving stories behind them, delving deeply into Hong Kong's history, culture, and local customs.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 09:51
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chiu Tsu-yin, Taipei, 12th) Hong Kong writer Poon Kwok-ling, despite suffering from illness, continues to persevere in his creative endeavors. His latest novel, "Stone Island and the First People," takes a unique approach, seeking out stones across Hong Kong and "touching the stones" to narrate the moving stories behind them.
"Stone Island" fictionalizes two close friends: "You You," a stone enthusiast, and "You Ming," an editor and "You You's" confidant. The entire book is guided by "You You," leading readers on a spiritual journey through various places in Hong Kong, including the Southern District, Central District, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Shau Kei Wan, and the Kowloon Peninsula, recounting local anecdotes, history, urban legends, and customs.
The book also intersperses chapters from "You Ming's" perspective, such as "Scattered Points in the New Territories" and "A Trip to Cheung Chau." The final chapter, "Stone Secret Chamber," is a letter written by "You You" to "You Ming," with its scope extending broadly across ancient and modern times, discussing the Bible, Greek mythology, Chinese mythology, and stone-related accounts in literature and poetry. "You You" also reflects on his journey from a stone chamber to a "secret chamber" and then to a "prison cell."
Chou Chao-fei, Editor-in-Chief of United Literature Publishing, stated that Poon Kwok-ling's "Body Variations," published by United Literature in 2024, received considerable acclaim. His new work, "Stone Island and the First People," is his ninth novel. It uses stones as a medium to connect the body, culture, history, and even the universe. He collects and seeks stones throughout Hong Kong, building his own stone routes, navigating many twists and turns and hardships, gathering the gifts of time, from roadside whispers to extending life in a secret chamber. It can be considered the author's own "Story of the Stone" after his illness, where life flows with time, also aligning with the various changes and disappearances of the city's landscape.
This Sunday (17th), a book club meeting titled "The Covenant of Stubborn Stones and Spiritual Stones – Poon Kwok-ling's 'Stone Island and the First People'" will be held at Boundless Books in Hong Kong, with Hong Kong writers Ip Chau-yin and Lo Wai-lok as main speakers. (Edited by Lee Heng-shan) 1150512
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(Central News Agency reporter Chiu Tsu-yin, Taipei, 12th) Hong Kong writer Poon Kwok-ling, despite suffering from illness, continues to persevere in his creative endeavors. His latest novel, "Stone Island and the First People," takes a unique approach, seeking out stones across Hong Kong and "touching the stones" to narrate the moving stories behind them.
"Stone Island" fictionalizes two close friends: "You You," a stone enthusiast, and "You Ming," an editor and "You You's" confidant. The entire book is guided by "You You," leading readers on a spiritual journey through various places in Hong Kong, including the Southern District, Central District, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Shau Kei Wan, and the Kowloon Peninsula, recounting local anecdotes, history, urban legends, and customs.
The book also intersperses chapters from "You Ming's" perspective, such as "Scattered Points in the New Territories" and "A Trip to Cheung Chau." The final chapter, "Stone Secret Chamber," is a letter written by "You You" to "You Ming," with its scope extending broadly across ancient and modern times, discussing the Bible, Greek mythology, Chinese mythology, and stone-related accounts in literature and poetry. "You You" also reflects on his journey from a stone chamber to a "secret chamber" and then to a "prison cell."
Chou Chao-fei, Editor-in-Chief of United Literature Publishing, stated that Poon Kwok-ling's "Body Variations," published by United Literature in 2024, received considerable acclaim. His new work, "Stone Island and the First People," is his ninth novel. It uses stones as a medium to connect the body, culture, history, and even the universe. He collects and seeks stones throughout Hong Kong, building his own stone routes, navigating many twists and turns and hardships, gathering the gifts of time, from roadside whispers to extending life in a secret chamber. It can be considered the author's own "Story of the Stone" after his illness, where life flows with time, also aligning with the various changes and disappearances of the city's landscape.
This Sunday (17th), a book club meeting titled "The Covenant of Stubborn Stones and Spiritual Stones – Poon Kwok-ling's 'Stone Island and the First People'" will be held at Boundless Books in Hong Kong, with Hong Kong writers Ip Chau-yin and Lo Wai-lok as main speakers. (Edited by Lee Heng-shan) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.