Ma Fengguo

Ma Fung-kwok GBS JP (born July 2, 1955) is a Hong Kong film industry figure and politician. He graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering of the Hong Kong Polytechnic (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University). He is currently a member of the Legislative Council (Election Committee constituency) and head of the Hong Kong delegation to the 14th National People's Congress. He is also President of the Hong Kong Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Ma has served as a member of the Legislative Council (Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication sector), Chairman of the Film Development Council, board member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, council member and vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Convenor of the New Century Forum, and former Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. He was a member of the Provisional Legislative Council (1997–1998), 1st (1998–2000), and 2nd (2000–2004) Legislative Council, and a Hong Kong Deputy to the 10th (2003–2008), 11th (2008–2013), 12th, and 13th National People's Congress. He was also an executive at Sil-Metropole Organisation and a producer of several acclaimed Hong Kong films, including *The Last Aristocrats* and *The Story of Qiu Ju*. In October 2020, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star.

Biography

Ma grew up in Kwun Tong District, Kowloon. In 1967, he enrolled at Kowloon Technical School. After graduating from the Department of Civil Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic, he joined Phoenix Films, later transitioning to Sil-Metropole following a merger. There, he produced acclaimed films and also worked in public relations, distribution, and management.

He was among the signatories in the 1989 press advertisement collection in support of the Tiananmen student movement.

Political Career

- On July 16, 1997, voted in favor of repealing the Employee’s Rights to Representation, Consultation and Collective Bargaining Ordinance. - On September 9, 1998, supported the bill to abolish the Victory Day public holiday. - On December 2, 1999, supported the Provision of Municipal Services (Reorganization) Bill which abolished the Urban and Regional Councils. - On October 17, 2012, opposed withdrawing the Moral and National Education guidelines and the resignation of Secretary for Education Eddie Ng. - In 2012, elected Legislative Council member for the cultural and sports sector. When asked about the lack of eligibility of some cultural workers as voters, he responded controversially: "What defines a writer? Writing a few articles makes you one? What makes someone an artist? Is the Kowloon Emperor a calligrapher?" - He opposed exemptions for derivative works in the Copyright Ordinance, saying they should not be excluded from copyright protections. - He also defended retaining functional constituencies, citing Hong Kong’s immature political development. - On November 7, 2013, abstained from voting on a motion invoking the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to compel the government to release TV licensing documents, sparking backlash from industry groups. - On October 17, 2014, opposed using the Powers and Privileges Ordinance to investigate Chief Executive CY Leung’s alleged receipt of secret payments from an Australian firm. - On April 23, 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak, urged the government to consider a third round of anti-epidemic funds to support non-MPF workers and private organizations in the cultural and sports sectors. - On May 22, 2020, while attending the NPC in Beijing, was automatically elected as Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council House Committee. - On January 16, 2024, elected Chairman of the Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports of the Legislative Council.

Honours

• 2004 – Silver Bauhinia Star
• 2020 – Gold Bauhinia Star

References

External Links

• Motion urging government to release TV licensing documents
• Motion invoking P&P Ordinance to submit TV license files