Ma Lik
Encyclopedia
Ma Lik, GBS
, JP
(b. 23 February 1952, Guangzhou
, Guangdong, China – d. 8 August 2007), was a Legislative Councillor
, and was the Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), a pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong.
. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree (with Honours) from the Department of Chinese from United College
, Chinese University of Hong Kong
.
and a local Deputy to the National People's Congress
elections in which the pro-democratic camp won 150 seats, while DAB secured only 62 seats out of the 205 DAB candidates fielded. Ma was re-elected leader on 25 April 2007.
Ma served in the Basic Law
Promotion Steering Committee, Hong Kong Cheshire Home Foundation, and Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education. He was formerly the Chief Editor of the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Deputy Secretary General of the Basic Law Consultative Committee, Director of Treasure Land International Property Consultants, General Manager of The Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture, and member of the Selection Committee for the First Government of HKSAR.
Ma was active in the political circles in Hong Kong and Mainland China
. Ma wrote weekly and daily columns that appear in Hong Kong Economic Times
,
Ming Pao
and The Sun.
Ma announced in 2004, prior to standing for election to the Legislative Council, that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer.
Sun Yat-sen University
. His body was transported back to Hong Kong on 11 August 2007. The funeral was held on 23 August. He was cremated according to his wishes.
Ma's death precipitated the Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007
, which was won by Anson Chan
on 2 December 2007.
". Ma caused huge furore which hit radio broadcasts, the front pages and editorials of several of the local newspapers, which cited him denying that clampdown of the protesters was a "massacre".
He said of 4000 students at the scene, not everyone got killed; certain student leaders, namely Chai Ling
, Wuerkaixi, Feng Chungde, and Hou Dejian
, were able to leave the protest site without incident, therefore it is not a massacre. Comments which appeared to cause the most offense related to the alleged army tanks' rolling over protesters, and the PLA
's cremation of victim's bodies on-site:
Ma questioned whether "Gweilo
s" (a racial epithet for Caucasians) should be the ones to interpret the truth about Tiananmen, and asserted that Hong Kong was "not mature enough", for believing a massacre took place. Hong Kong lacked patriotism and national identity, and would thus not be ready for universal suffrage
until 2022.
Ma also asked the Education Department to define massacre as events where over 4,000 were dead, which would make Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
not a massacre under the new definition. He later withdrew the redefinition request.
called Ma "shameless", questioning if killings had to be on the scale of the Nanking Massacre
to qualify. He said that "facts written in blood cannot be twisted by lies". Democrat Cheung Man Kwong
criticised the attempt at "whitewash", and denounced Ma as "cold-blooded". Student leader of the protest, Wang Dan, said Ma was "utterly devoid of a conscience". Albert Ho
said: "Ma's remarks have put salt on the open historical wounds".
Outraged by Ma's comments, 127 "Tiananmen Mothers
", led by Ding Zilin, demanded a retraction and a public apology for the humiliation he has heaped on those who died.
The day after the remarks appeared in the headlines, Ma attended an RTHK radio phone-in, where he apologised for making "frivolous and giddy" remarks. Ma claimed he was merely trying to bring the rash claims about the number and manner of deaths reported in the foreign press into proper perspective. He admitted he had perhaps been careless with his words, and would assume full responsibility for what he said. He stopped short of apologising for his comments in general.
One DAB Vice Chairman Tam Yiu Chung
defended Ma, but questioned the timing: "people will understand it gradually". Fearing political fallout, another DAB Vice Chairman, Lau Kong Wah (劉江華), distanced the party from Ma, saying that Ma had expressed "a personal opinion". Chan Wing-kee (陳永棋), the head of ATV
and CPPCC
Standing Committee member declared Ma "a patriot" for his comments. Chan furthermore denounced the perennial Legco debate on the 4 June incident as "unnecessary". Another CPPCC member, Chang Ka-mun, chimed in, saying it was "irrational" to compare 4 June to the Nanjing massacre.
The Central committee of the DAB declined any further action after their meeting on 22 May, stating that Vice-Chairman Lau's response was adequate. There was no formal apology.
The annual vigil in memory of Tiananmen attracted an increased turnout in 2007. An estimated 55,000 people, more than a few of whom appear to have been spurred to attend by Ma's comments, packed Victoria Park
, up from 44,000 one year earlier.
attempt by Beijing to dampen expectations for universal suffrage
. The timing of the above statement by NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo
at to a NPC deputies' meeting in March 2007, is considered important, as Donald Tsang promised a green paper (consultative document) on electoral reform would be published in the summer.
More recently, some local loyalists have issued statements pushing back the date for universal suffrage. Most notably, Cheng Yiu-tong ruled out direct elections for the Chief Executive
in 2012. He further warned pro-democracy advocates that universal suffrage in 2017 was unlikely. He blamed the lack of progress on the "intransigence" of democrats, who blocked reform proposals put forward in December 2005. Cheng said that the electoral system would "march on the spot again in 2012".
. Ma Lik publicly attacked RTHK from changing the role from a "watchdog" to a "mouthpiece" of the Hong Kong government.
rule.
Gold Bauhinia Star
The Gold Bauhinia Star is the highest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(b. 23 February 1952, Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong, China – d. 8 August 2007), was a Legislative Councillor
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
, and was the Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), a pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong.
Education
Ma Lik attended the Pui Kiu Middle SchoolPui Kiu Middle School
Pui Kiu Middle School ' is a leftist/communist secondary school in Hong Kong. Located in the Eastern District area of North Point, it has attracted controversy.-History:...
. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree (with Honours) from the Department of Chinese from United College
United College
United College can refer to:* United College, St Andrews* United College * United College, Winnipeg...
, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
.
Early years
He was a teacher in the Sun Kiu Middle School, a pro-Chinese Communist Party secondary school in Hong Kong. He became a deputy publisher of the Hong Kong Commercial DailyHong Kong Commercial Daily
The Hong Kong Commercial Daily is a business-oriented newspaper, published in broadsheet format. Established in 1952, it was the first financial newspaper in the Chinese language, with its electronic format available on the Internet...
and a local Deputy to the National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
Career
Ma was formerly the Secretary General of the DAB, and became the Chairman of the DAB in December 2003 Chairman, Jasper Tsang resigned following the poor performance of the party in the November 2003 District CouncilDistrict Council of Hong Kong
The District Councils, formerly District Boards until 1999, are the local councils for the 18 Districts of Hong Kong. Under the supervision of Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, they are consultative bodies on district administration and affairs.- History :In 1982, under the...
elections in which the pro-democratic camp won 150 seats, while DAB secured only 62 seats out of the 205 DAB candidates fielded. Ma was re-elected leader on 25 April 2007.
Ma served in the Basic Law
Hong Kong Basic Law
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or simply Hong Kong Basic Law, serves as the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China...
Promotion Steering Committee, Hong Kong Cheshire Home Foundation, and Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education. He was formerly the Chief Editor of the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Deputy Secretary General of the Basic Law Consultative Committee, Director of Treasure Land International Property Consultants, General Manager of The Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture, and member of the Selection Committee for the First Government of HKSAR.
Ma was active in the political circles in Hong Kong and Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. Ma wrote weekly and daily columns that appear in Hong Kong Economic Times
Hong Kong Economic Times
Hong Kong Economic Times , the leading financial daily in Hong Kong, was founded by Mr. Fung Siu Por, Lawrence , Mr. Perry Mak , Mr. Arthur Shek and other founders with HK$20 million of foundation fund in 1988...
,
Ming Pao
Ming Pao
Ming Pao is a Chinese language newspaper published by Ming Pao Group in Hong Kong. In the 1990s, Ming Pao established four overseas branches in North America, each provides independent reporting on local news and collect local advertisements. Currently, only the two Canadian editions remain: Ming...
and The Sun.
Ma announced in 2004, prior to standing for election to the Legislative Council, that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer.
Death
He left for treatment in Guangzhou soon after the Tiananmen controversy he sparked. He died on 8 August 2007 at 2 pm in GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
Sun Yat-sen University
Sun Yat-sen University
Sun Yat-sen University, also unofficially referred to as Zhongshan University , is a prominent university located mainly in Guangzhou, China. The University is named after Dr...
. His body was transported back to Hong Kong on 11 August 2007. The funeral was held on 23 August. He was cremated according to his wishes.
Ma's death precipitated the Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007
Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007
The Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007 was precipitated by the death of the then chairman of the Pro-Beijing DAB, Ma Lik on 8 August 2007.It was the second by-election in a geographical constituency to be held since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 and the largest remainder proportional...
, which was won by Anson Chan
Anson Chan
Anson Maria Elizabeth Chan Fang On-sang GBM GCMG CBE JP was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for Hong Kong Island, succeeding the late legislator Ma Lik....
on 2 December 2007.
Tiananmen Square Massacre denial furore
On 15 May 2007, during an informal meeting Ma had with journalists to discuss political reform, Ma was asked on his views on the "Tiananmen massacreTiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
". Ma caused huge furore which hit radio broadcasts, the front pages and editorials of several of the local newspapers, which cited him denying that clampdown of the protesters was a "massacre".
He said of 4000 students at the scene, not everyone got killed; certain student leaders, namely Chai Ling
Chai Ling
Chai Ling was one of the student leaders in the Tian'anmen Square protests of 1989. Today she is Founder of All Girls Allowed, a humanitarian organization working to restore value to girls in China.-Education and protest:Chai Ling's parents were members of the Communist Party...
, Wuerkaixi, Feng Chungde, and Hou Dejian
Hou Dejian
侯德健 , born October 1, 1956 in Taiwan, is a songwriter, composer, and singer.Since the 1980s, his songs have been popular in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. His songs are written mostly in Chinese, with a few in English...
, were able to leave the protest site without incident, therefore it is not a massacre. Comments which appeared to cause the most offense related to the alleged army tanks' rolling over protesters, and the PLA
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
's cremation of victim's bodies on-site:
Ma questioned whether "Gweilo
Gweilo
Gweilo or Gwailo is a common Cantonese slang term for foreigners, and has a long history of racially deprecatory use. If there is some racially deprecatory meaning or it is expressive of hate, it is shown by the addition of the adjective, sei or as a prefix: seigwailo...
s" (a racial epithet for Caucasians) should be the ones to interpret the truth about Tiananmen, and asserted that Hong Kong was "not mature enough", for believing a massacre took place. Hong Kong lacked patriotism and national identity, and would thus not be ready for universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
until 2022.
Ma also asked the Education Department to define massacre as events where over 4,000 were dead, which would make Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
not a massacre under the new definition. He later withdrew the redefinition request.
Responses
Democrats and relatives of victims all attacked Ma for his comments. Szeto WahSzeto Wah
Szeto Wah was a politician of the pan-democracy camp of Hong Kong. He was formerly the chairman of The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China and a member of the Legislative Council from 1985 to 1997 and 1998 to 2004.Although the Hong Kong government prior to as...
called Ma "shameless", questioning if killings had to be on the scale of the Nanking Massacre
Nanking Massacre
The Nanking Massacre or Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, was a mass murder, genocide and war rape that occurred during the six-week period following the Japanese capture of the city of Nanjing , the former capital of the Republic of China, on December 13, 1937 during the Second...
to qualify. He said that "facts written in blood cannot be twisted by lies". Democrat Cheung Man Kwong
Cheung Man Kwong
Cheung Man Kwong , born 15 September 1954 in Hong Kong with family roots in Taishan, Guangdong) is a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council representing the Education functional constituency. He is a member of Hong Kong Democratic Party and chairman of Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union...
criticised the attempt at "whitewash", and denounced Ma as "cold-blooded". Student leader of the protest, Wang Dan, said Ma was "utterly devoid of a conscience". Albert Ho
Albert Ho
Albert Ho Chun-yan . He is currently secretary general of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China and chairman of the Democratic Party. He is a solicitor and a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong....
said: "Ma's remarks have put salt on the open historical wounds".
Outraged by Ma's comments, 127 "Tiananmen Mothers
Tiananmen Mothers
The Tiananmen Mothers is a group of Chinese democracy activists promoting a change in the government's position over the suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989...
", led by Ding Zilin, demanded a retraction and a public apology for the humiliation he has heaped on those who died.
The day after the remarks appeared in the headlines, Ma attended an RTHK radio phone-in, where he apologised for making "frivolous and giddy" remarks. Ma claimed he was merely trying to bring the rash claims about the number and manner of deaths reported in the foreign press into proper perspective. He admitted he had perhaps been careless with his words, and would assume full responsibility for what he said. He stopped short of apologising for his comments in general.
One DAB Vice Chairman Tam Yiu Chung
Tam Yiu Chung
Tam Yiu-chung, GBS, JP, is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, representing the New Territories West constituency. He was a member of the Executive Council from 1997 to 2002...
defended Ma, but questioned the timing: "people will understand it gradually". Fearing political fallout, another DAB Vice Chairman, Lau Kong Wah (劉江華), distanced the party from Ma, saying that Ma had expressed "a personal opinion". Chan Wing-kee (陳永棋), the head of ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
and CPPCC
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
Standing Committee member declared Ma "a patriot" for his comments. Chan furthermore denounced the perennial Legco debate on the 4 June incident as "unnecessary". Another CPPCC member, Chang Ka-mun, chimed in, saying it was "irrational" to compare 4 June to the Nanjing massacre.
The Central committee of the DAB declined any further action after their meeting on 22 May, stating that Vice-Chairman Lau's response was adequate. There was no formal apology.
The annual vigil in memory of Tiananmen attracted an increased turnout in 2007. An estimated 55,000 people, more than a few of whom appear to have been spurred to attend by Ma's comments, packed Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Victoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
, up from 44,000 one year earlier.
Possible motives
Analysts began to comment that Ma's remarks might have been part of a concerted propagandaPropaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
attempt by Beijing to dampen expectations for universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
. The timing of the above statement by NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo
Wu Bangguo
Wu Bangguo is a high-ranking politician in the People's Republic of China. He is currently Chairman and Party secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a position that makes him China's chief legislator...
at to a NPC deputies' meeting in March 2007, is considered important, as Donald Tsang promised a green paper (consultative document) on electoral reform would be published in the summer.
More recently, some local loyalists have issued statements pushing back the date for universal suffrage. Most notably, Cheng Yiu-tong ruled out direct elections for the Chief Executive
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
in 2012. He further warned pro-democracy advocates that universal suffrage in 2017 was unlikely. He blamed the lack of progress on the "intransigence" of democrats, who blocked reform proposals put forward in December 2005. Cheng said that the electoral system would "march on the spot again in 2012".
Anti-RTHK
In 20 October 1999 the pro-Beijing group fiercely attacked Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
. Ma Lik publicly attacked RTHK from changing the role from a "watchdog" to a "mouthpiece" of the Hong Kong government.
Criticising Hong Kong
Ma Lik criticised the rate at which Hong Kong is moving. And that it would take until 2022 for the public to have acquired enough patriotism to accept Communist partyCommunist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
rule.
See also
- PRC United Front strategyPRC United Front strategyThe PRC United Front strategy is a series of coordinated efforts directed by the Communist Chinese Government centralized in Beijing to attain greater control over the city of Hong Kong. To accomplish this aim, a number of different strategies have been used since the 1980s...
- Regina IpRegina IpRegina Ip Lau Suk-yee, GBS JP is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , as well as the co-founder and current chairwoman of the New People's Party and Savantas Policy Institute....
- Tsang Yok-singTsang Yok-singJasper Tsang Yok-sing, GBS JP was the founding Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong , the largest pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong....
- Tsang Tak-singTsang Tak-singTsang Tak Sing, JP is the Secretary for Home Affairs of Hong Kong. Formerly an adviser to the Central Policy Unit, he assumed office on 1 July 2007, replacing Patrick Ho. He is the younger brother of Jasper Tsang, who was the legislative councillor and former chairman of the Democratic Alliance...