Stone House

Hidden within the bustling city of Hong Kong, Stone House stands as a silent witness to a bygone era. This unassuming granite structure, nestled at No. 4 Tai Koon Yuen in Diamond Hill, whispers tales of a vanished squatter village and the vibrant film industry that once thrived there. Stone House is one of the “Treasures of Tai Hom Village,” a poignant reminder of a community erased in 2001. Built in the late 1940s, its granite stones, sourced from the nearby Diamond Hill Stone Quarry, echo the resilience of its former inhabitants. Stone House wasn’t just a dwelling; it housed dreams. In the 1950s and 60s, the renowned actor Roy Chiao called Stone House home, adding a touch of glamour to the then-thriving film scene. The area was a hub for film studios like Dai Guan Film Production Factory and Jian Cheng Film Production Factory. Stone House bore witness to the comings and goings of actors, directors, and dreamers. The land, originally purchased in 1947 by Yang Shou-ren and named Tai Koon Yuen after a mansion in the classic novel *Dream of the Red Chamber*, was a place of creativity and ambition. Even as progress marched on, threatening the existence of Tai Hom Village and its treasures, Stone House stubbornly persisted. Despite plans for a Sha Tin to Central Link depot in 2008 and a downgrade in its historical building classification in 2010, it remained. Although its neighboring treasures, the Former RAF Hangar and the Old Pillbox, were relocated during station expansion in 2013, Stone House stood firm. Now, Stone House awaits its next chapter. Destined for relocation to a water garden park alongside public housing, it will continue to watch over the city, a timeless symbol of Hong Kong’s rich and ever-evolving story.