Patriotic Macau entrepreneur Ma Man-kei dies aged 94

Well-known Macau entrepreneur and a former vice-chairman of the country's top political advisory body, Ma Man-kei, died on Monday in Beijing aged 94.

The patriotic businessman and "senior political adviser of the mainland" died of illness, Xinhua reported.

Ma, regarded by the state media as "a distinguished social activist, patriot and close friend of the Communist Party", was appointed vice-chairman of the eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference since 1993.

He played a significant role in preparing for the then Portuguese colony's handover before 1999. He was vice-chairman of the Committee for Drafting of the Basic Law for the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Industrialist Chan Wing-kee, whose family has been close to Ma's for decades, praised Ma for his contribution.

"He was well respected in Macau," Chan, a member of the CPPCC standing committee, said. "More than 40 years ago, I was running a factory in Macau. A veteran of my factory passed away and Ma, who was already vice-chairman of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, walked the whole long way to send him off. I found Ma to be a man who greatly treasured friendship."