HONG KONG, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of renowned Chinese writer Eileen Chang, who has a significant place in the modern Chinese literary world. Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) is honoured to receive a generous donation from Dr Roland Soong and his elder sister, Mrs Elaine Soong Kingman, administrators of Eileen Chang's estate, which includes Eileen Chang's manuscripts, relics, and correspondence with her best friends, Stephen Soong and his wife, Mae Fong Soong, and others. The collection sheds light on Chang's creative journey and the influence of the Soong couple on her career development and personal life. It will be the permanently housed at HKMU, providing an invaluable collection of cultural heritage for the literary community and researchers, and further promoting modern Chinese literary research and the innovative development of the digital humanities.
The donation ceremony held today (12 February) was officiated by Dr Roland Soong, Mrs Elaine Soong Kingman, Ir Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung, HKMU Council Chairman, and Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, HKMU President. The donation includes thousands of manuscripts and personal items from Eileen Chang and the Soong couple. Selected items from the collection were featured in a preview for guests and media at the event, including some of Eileen Chang's original manuscripts, her correspondence with the Soong couple and personal photographs. The preview also included letters exchanged between Mr Soong and distinguished Chinese literary scholars and writers, like Qian Zhong-shu (錢é¾æ›¸), reflecting Mr Soong's footprint and contribution to the Chinese cultural realm.
At the ceremony, Dr Soong said that the most important aim for him and his sister, as administrators of the estates of Eileen Chang and their parents, was to ensure the manuscripts and relics of the three will be properly preserved through this donation, for research and literature promotion. "It is rare to find such a significant literary collection of manuscripts and relics of Eileen Chang and my parents in Hong Kong," he said. "I hope that through HKMU, we can help foster the preservation and inheritance of, and research on, modern literary works, allowing more people to appreciate their works from different perspectives and promoting Chinese literature in Hong Kong and around the world."
On behalf of HKMU, Ir Dr Wong expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Soong family for their generous donation, which provides valuable resources for the Hong Kong academic and cultural communities and stands as recognition of the University's commitment to the preservation and research of modern literary works. "The University will cherish and make the best use of these cultural treasures," he said. "Through research, exhibitions and digital humanities innovations, we aim to allow our faculty, students, the public, researchers and even tourists to experience the charm of these cultural gems up close. It will help enhance the University's influence in promoting modern Chinese literature and advancing digital humanities innovation in Hong Kong and beyond."
Prof. Lam thanked the Soong family for their trust in the University, noting that the donation is believed to be the largest collection of Eileen Chang and the Soong couple in the Chinese-speaking world. "HKMU is dedicated to enhancing students' knowledge and advancing research capacity, and the digital humanities and literature have been one of its strategic research areas," he said. "This cultural heritage collection housed at HKMU will give new impetus to the University and related literary studies, and help promote interdisciplinary, cross-institutional and cross-regional research to gain deeper insights into modern Chinese literature and foster cultural inheritance."
To preserve and pass on these precious documents and drive related research, Prof. Charles Kwong Che-leung, HKMU Vice President (Administration and Corporate Development), said that the School of Arts and Social Sciences and the Library have teamed up to build a database of archival documents and digital collections by adopting a digital humanities approach. The Library will also establish two specific sections, namely the "Special Collection of Eileen Chang" and the "Special Collection of Stephen Soong and Mae Fong Soong". Additionally, an open exhibition is being planned to let the public gain a deeper understanding of the literary works and remarkable achievements of Eileen Chang and the Soongs, as well as Hong Kong's crucial role in the development of Chinese literature worldwide.
In the sharing session, Dr Rebecca Leung Mo-ling, convenor of the donation programme and Associate Dean (Administration and Development) of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, who specialises in Modern Chinese Literature research, talked about the significant role Stephen Soong played in the Chinese cultural field. In addition to being a literary critic, translator and poet with an extensive personal network, he was an indispensable intermediary in the development of Eileen Chang's writing career. Dr Leung said she hoped the donation and associated promotional activities would inspire more people to explore the world of modern Chinese literature.
Mr Owen Tam Man-lik, University Librarian and another convener of the donation programme, said the collection, preservation, digitisation and promotion of the donated items represent an important step by the HKMU Library to preserve and promote cultural heritage. He hoped the collection would not only enrich the resources of the University Library but also provide valuable academic research materials for scholars worldwide and benefit the public interested in modern Chinese literature and the works of Eileen Chang and the Soong couple.
Please click on the following link to visit the HKMU Modern Chinese Literature Collection:
https://repository.lib.hkmu.edu.hk/mcl/
List of the preview items (Chinese only)
https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/PAO/events/2025/250212_Dr Roland Soong and Mrs Elaine Soong Kingman Donation Ceremony/HKMU donation ceremony_factsheet_exhibited items.pdf
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
HKMU receives precious manuscripts and relics from Eileen Chang, Stephen Soong and Mae Fong Soong; Literary treasures to be digitally preserved to promote modern Chinese literature research
NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- WePlay, a leading global social entertainment platform, today officially announced a strategic partnership with "The Little Prince," a French literary classic IP, to launch a special Valentine's Day themed collaborative activity. The campaign will run from February 7 to February 14, featuring innovative gameplay mechanics, limited-edition gifts, and emotional interaction systems designed to deliver a cultural feast that blends literary classics with modern social entertainment for young users across North America.
A Cultural Collision Across the Atlantic: Classic Literature Meets Social Entertainment
"The Little Prince" is a novella created by French writer and military pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1943. Since its publication, it has become one of the world's best-selling literary works, with sales exceeding 140 million copies. The work has been translated into over 650 languages and dialects, making it the second-most published book globally, surpassed only by the Bible. It enjoys a broad readership across America, Europe, and worldwide, particularly beloved by Gen-Z and young adults. 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of "The Little Prince's" publication in France. WePlay has chosen this momentous occasion to launch this collaborative activity. The goal is to deeply integrate the novel's core philosophy of "taming creates bonds" with modern social entertainment scenarios, providing global young users with a Valentine's Day experience that is both culturally rich and entertainingly valuable.
Customized Gameplay Design: Reinventing Valentine's Day Social Expression
This WePlay Valentine's Day special activity features multi-layered, multi-dimensional interactive gameplay with the core objective of ensuring every user's love story is seen, celebrated, and permanently commemorated. Key Features Include:
- Customized Recharge Incentives & Growth Multiplier System: Offering 30% additional recharge bonuses while providing doubled charm and growth point rewards.
- Valentine's Day Limited-Edition Luxury Rings: Launching specially designed, visually stunning Valentine's Day exclusive rings with dazzling effects.
- Little Prince Co-branded Gifts & Rare Items: Collaboratively designed a series of co-branded gifts and props that blend classic elements from the novel—roses, Planet B-612, and foxes. Each item carries emotional symbolism from the Little Prince story.
- CP Couple-Exclusive Benefits & Proposal Mechanics: Lowering the threshold for using the platform's proposal feature while offering super-value rewards to couples who have established CP relationships and meet consumption targets.
- Ring Discounts & Limited-Time Promotions: Multiple ring options featuring special promotional pricing during the activity period, encouraging users to express emotional commitment through virtual jewelry "gifting."
WePlay's North American Market Position & Global Strategy
WePlay is the flagship global next-generation social entertainment platform under WEJOY PTE. LTD., headquartered in Singapore. Since its launch, WePlay has established a robust user base across multiple global regions including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. According to official data, WePlay has accumulated over 800 million downloads with monthly active users in the millions, establishing itself as a leading choice for young global users' social entertainment. In the American market, WePlay has secured a significant position in the App Store and Google Play's social entertainment category thanks to its "low-barrier entry, high immersion, strong social" characteristics. The user base primarily consists of 18-25-year-old young social entertainment users. WePlay's global IP strategy has already achieved several success cases. Previously, the platform collaborated with renowned IPs including "Care Bears," "Chibi Maruko-chan," and "Kumamon." Each collaboration effectively elevated the platform's brand perception and user stickiness. This partnership with "The Little Prince" marks a further breakthrough in both "selecting classic IPs with global cultural influence" and "innovative gameplay design."
Why "The Little Prince"? Why Valentine's Day?
Alan Smith, WePlay's North American market director, stated in an interview: "The Little Prince is a work with trans-generational, trans-gender, and trans-cultural resonance globally. At its core, it's about 'connection'—the deep spiritual linkage between people, which aligns perfectly with WePlay's mission to 'bring joy and friendship to young people worldwide.'" Alan further explained: "In the North American market, Gen Z and young millennial users increasingly seek product experiences that are 'warm' and 'culturally deep.' Purely functional innovations and price advantages are no longer sufficient to win their hearts. We believe that by introducing classic IPs with global resonance points and fusing their philosophical cores with social interaction mechanisms, we can elevate virtual entertainment into an 'emotional expression vehicle' and a 'mode of cultural participation.' Valentine's Day itself is inherently about being 'seen' and 'celebrated,' and WePlay's social mechanics are perfectly positioned to deliver exactly this."
WePlay's Future Roadmap
WePlay has announced that this collaboration with "The Little Prince" will set a new benchmark for the platform's global IP strategy. Going forward, WePlay plans to:
About WePlay
WePlay is a global next-generation social entertainment platform under WEJOY PTE. LTD., headquartered in Singapore. The platform integrates gaming, voice interaction, party entertainment, and various other functions, with the mission to "Bring joy and friends to young people around the world," committed to "Bring people together through games, lead the trend of global online social entertainment." WePlay has become the preferred social entertainment app for global young users through its innovative gameplay, immersive social experiences, and warm community culture. The platform consistently adheres to a product philosophy of "quality first, innovation-driven, cultural depth," collaborating with globally renowned IPs to deliver interactive experiences that are both entertainingly valuable and culturally meaningful.
Platform Features:
- Innovative combination of voice social communication and gamified interaction
- Hit games including 《Who's the Spy》, 《Guess My Drawing》, 《Mic Grab》, and more
- Immersive social experiences combining online and offline elements
About WEJOY PTE. LTD.
WEJOY PTE. LTD. is an internet company based in Singapore, founded on October 23, 2020. As a company with a global vision and innovative spirit, we are dedicated to expanding in the social and gaming business sectors worldwide. We focus on the development and operation of social board games and casual games, with a particular emphasis on creating innovative and engaging gaming experiences that connect people around the world. Currently, we are actively expanding into international markets, and in the future, we aim to make a significant impact on the global stage.
Media Contact
Company Name: WEJOY PTE. LTD.
Contact Person: Bryant
Email: bryant@wejoysg.com
WePlay Official Website: https://weplayapp.com/
WeJoy Official Website: https://wejoyhub.com/
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
WePlay Teams Up with "The Little Prince" to Launch 2026 Valentine's Day Special Activity, Creating a Romantic Social Media Feast for Young Americans
