Ma Si-hang’s tears for Tung stem from old visit
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Trade Development Council chairman Ma Si-hang (馬時亨) was visibly emotional on Wednesday, September 9, after attending the Belt and Road Summit, when asked about the death of Tung Chee-hwa (董伯伯 in the source’s familiar form for Tung). The report says Ma’s tears were tied not only to his admiration for Tung’s vision and commitment to Hong Kong, but also to a private episode from 2002 that had not previously been made public. According to the account, Tung personally went to Ma’s home after the “penny stocks” controversy erupted shortly after Ma took office as Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury in July 2002. Ma is said to have regarded that visit as a defining act of trust that shaped his later path in politics and public service.
Key Points
- The source says Ma spoke after the Belt and Road Summit on September 9 and became tearful while praising Tung as far-sighted and devoted to Hong Kong.
- The backstory began when Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung recommended Ma to Tung after Leung joined the government in early 2001.
- Tung then met Ma in his office, spoke with him in an informal atmosphere, and checked with Ma’s former colleagues and classmates before deciding.
- In May 2002, Tung formally offered Ma the post in the new-term government, and Ma accepted before taking office in July 2002.
- Weeks after Ma took office, the “penny stocks” affair triggered political pressure; when Ma offered to step down, Tung instead visited his home and told him to continue serving.
Why It Matters
The account adds a personal dimension to public mourning for Tung by linking Ma’s reaction to a specific episode of political leadership and loyalty. For Hong Kong readers, it also offers a rare glimpse into how senior officials were recruited and supported during a turbulent period in the city’s financial governance.