Ma Xizhen
Ma Sik-chun, also known as Ma Yik-shing, was a male triad member and businessman from Chaoyang, Guangdong. He was a member of the triad society Fuk Yee Hing and co-founded the Oriental Press Group with his elder brother Ma Sik-yu. In 1978, he was charged with drug trafficking and jumped bail to flee to Taiwan, remaining wanted by the Hong Kong government. He had three sons: Ma Ching-kun, Ma Ching-fat, and Ma Ching-choy. His nephew is Hong Kong tycoon Ma Ting-keung.
Biography
Ma Sik-chun and his elder brother Ma Sik-yu were born in Limei Village, Heping Town, Chaoyang, Guangdong, Republic of China. After losing their parents early, they were raised by their uncle. They illegally entered Hong Kong from mainland China, joined the Chiu Chow gang, and engaged in illegal gambling businesses. Later, they became involved in the triads and drug smuggling, becoming wealthy and earning the nickname "Golden Ma."
In 1969, Ma and his brother co-founded the *Oriental Daily News*. Due to their close ties with the Kuomintang (KMT), they were considered right-wing and pro-KMT, with sympathies toward the Republic of China and the British colonial government of Hong Kong.
The Ma brothers were seen as the deputies of notorious drug lord Ng Sik-ho, known as "Crippled Ho." In 1974, Ng was arrested by Hong Kong’s Narcotics Bureau and sentenced to 30 years in prison — then the longest sentence in Hong Kong judicial history. In 1977, Ma Sik-yu was charged with smuggling 700 tons of opium between 1968 and 1974. Before arrest, he fled to Taiwan, which had no extradition treaty with Hong Kong, making extradition impossible. In July 1978, Ma Sik-chun was arrested on drug trafficking and bribery charges. Despite having his passport confiscated, he successfully jumped bail and fled to Taiwan, remaining wanted by the Hong Kong government.[1][2]
According to various reports, after Ma Sik-chun arrived in Su'ao by boat, he was arrested by Taiwanese authorities for illegal entry with forged documents and sentenced to one year in prison.[3] He later settled in Taiwan in 1978 and used his illicit wealth to invest in legitimate businesses, amassing significant real estate holdings across Europe, North America, and Australia — including a whole block of office buildings in London’s Westminster district.
Despite his permanent exile, Ma continued earning income through Oriental Press Group, run by his son Ma Ching-kun. The Hong Kong government’s warrant against him remained active for over 30 years.[2]
In an attempt to seek amnesty from the Hong Kong government, the Ma family launched *East Express* newspaper and reportedly made donations to the British Prime Minister John Major’s administration. Despite these efforts, Ma was never allowed to return to Hong Kong. *Oriental Daily News* later exposed political donations that caused a brief scandal in the UK.[1][4]
In 2013, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference member Lew Mon-hung claimed former Chief Executive Donald Tsang promised Ma Ching-kun that his father could return to Hong Kong. When the promise was broken, *Oriental Daily* began attacking Tsang with relentless negative coverage. The newspaper also targeted Henry Tang during the 2012 Chief Executive election.
On April 14, 2014, Ma Sik-chun's legal team filed an application to Hong Kong's High Court to revoke the arrest warrant, citing his heart condition and final wish to return to Hong Kong. The Department of Justice argued that if Ma returned, there would be insufficient evidence to prosecute him, and he would walk free — but that would send a harmful message to the public. The judge ultimately rejected the application.[5]
Death
On June 15, 2015, Ma Sik-chun died from multiple organ failure at Taipei Veterans General Hospital at the age of 77.[6][7]
On June 19, 2015, his body was transported back to Hong Kong via China Airlines flight CI909.[8]
Portrayals in Media
- *426* (1977): Character Niu Sik-jan portrayed Ma Sik-chun (pun on "Sik-chun").
- *White Powder Twins* (1978): Based on the Ma brothers’ rise; Ma portrayed by Alan Tang.
- *Man in the River and Lake* (1980): Also based on the Ma brothers; Ma portrayed by Chan Koon-tai.
- *Lee Rock* (1991) and *Prince of Temple Street* (1992): Character "Little Ma" inspired by Ma Sik-chun, portrayed by Luk Kim-ming.
- *The Big Four: Dragon and Tiger Brothers* (1991), also known as *Hong Kong Underground Commander*: Character Ma Tsim-shan based on Ma Sik-chun, portrayed by Ray Lui (adult) and Sung Bun-chung (youth).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%AC%E6%83%9C%E7%8F%8D#cite_ref-1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%AC%E6%83%9C%E7%8F%8D#cite_ref-2
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named1977快報 - ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%AC%E6%83%9C%E7%8F%8D#cite_ref-%E7%A6%81%E6%AF%92%E5%B8%B8%E5%8B%99%E5%A7%94%E5%93%A1%E6%9C%83%E4%B8%89%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%94%E9%80%B1%E5%B9%B4%E7%B4%80%E5%BF%B5%E5%86%8A_4-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%AC%E6%83%9C%E7%8F%8D#cite_ref-77%E5%B9%B49%E6%9C%8811%E6%97%A5%E5%BF%AB%E5%A0%B1_5-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%AC%E6%83%9C%E7%8F%8D#cite_ref-78%E5%B9%B49%E6%9C%8820%E6%97%A5%E5%BF%AB%E5%A0%B1_6-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%AC%E6%83%9C%E7%8F%8D#cite_ref-78%E5%B9%B49%E6%9C%8821%E6%97%A5%E5%BF%AB%E5%A0%B1_7-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%AC%E6%83%9C%E7%8F%8D#cite_ref-8