When triads attacked ‘Chinese Heroes’ cartoonist Ma Wing-shing and his assistant with knives in Hong Kong
- The cartoonist was returning home after playing tennis with his assistant when they were attacked by triad gang members, sustaining knife wounds to their arms
- Three months earlier, Ma, who drew a popular comic series, reported to the police that he had received a threatening phone call, but they initially ignored him
“An artist for a popular series of Chinese comics and his assistant were attacked by a gang armed with knives at Tai Koo Shing yesterday,” reported the South China Morning Post on January 2, 1989.
“Mr Ma Wing-shing, 27, who draws the comics Chinese Heroes, and his assistant Mr Tsui Yuen-fat, 23, were both admitted to the Queen Mary Hospital with wounds on their arms.
“The artist was returning to his Tai Koo Shing home with Mr Tsui after a game of tennis when the gang attacked shortly after 4pm.”
On January 7, the Post reported that “the Jademan Group yesterday denied it was in conflict with its cartoonist, Ma Wing-shing [ …] A statement released yesterday said the Jademan Group has the copyright of Chinese Heroes and there was no truth to the speculation that Ma had been involved in a conflict over his contract with the firm.”
“‘Mr Ma has cooperated with the company for the past eight years and our relationship has been good,’ the statement said.”
On February 22, the Post reported that “legislative councillor Hui Yin-fat will question the Government over the protection it offers to people threatened by triad gangs or thugs”.
“The move by Mr Hui, who is director of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, has been prompted by recent attacks on top cartoonist Ma Wing-shing and threats against minibus drivers in Yuen Long.
“[Ma] said yesterday he had received an anonymous threatening phone call last October. He reported the matter to the police, who refused to accept his claim until he told them he had been attacked by a gang in Wan Chai in May last year.
“‘I don’t know what I can do more than reporting to police about my being threatened or attacked’.”
