Ng Sik-ho
Ng Sik-ho, also known as "Crippled Ho" or "Limpy Ho" was a prominent Hong Kong drug lord and triad boss.
Biography
Ng, born in 1930, was of Teochew origin. Ng earned his nickname of "Crippled Ho" or "Limpy Ho" following a leg injury sustained in a street fight. He moved to Hong Kong from mainland China during the Great Chinese Famine in the 1960s.From as early as 1967, Ng was involved in the illicit trade of opium and morphine. He was married to Cheng Yuet-ying, who was also involved in the drug trade. Ng built a drug empire that, at the time of his arrest, was said to have covered Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Britain and America.
Ng was arrested on 12 November 1974 on charges of smuggling 20 tonnes of opium and morphine from Thailand and other countries into Hong Kong. Nicknamed "Mr. Big" by the media, Ng was convicted in May 1975 to 30 years of imprisonment, the longest sentence ever imposed by a Hong Kong court at that time. His wife was subsequently arrested and was convicted on 23 February to 16 years imprisonment and was fined 1 million yuan.
Ng became a key witness in the case against Ma Sik-chun, Ng's former associate who was facing charges of heroin and opium trafficking.
Ng became a Buddhist while in jail. In April 1991, his sentence was reduced by the Governor of Hong Kong by four and a half years, and he was scheduled to be released at the end of the year. In July, Ng was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, and it was estimated that he would live no more than 6 weeks. His sentence was then further reduced.
On 14 August 1991, after serving 16 years in jail, Ng was released on medical grounds. He was moved to a guarded hospital cell to a ward at the Queen Mary Hospital. He died a few weeks later on September 8, 1991, at age 61. His wife was eventually released from prison in 1992.