User:Kelvin 2015/Ma Pak Leung

Ma Pak Leung Company Limited

Company type	Traditional Chinese medicine
Industry	Proprietary Chinese Medicine Manufacturing
Founded	1822
Headquarters	G/f & M/f, 306 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan,Hong Kong
Key people	Founder: Ma Pak Leung
Products	Ma Pak Leung Angong Niuhuang Wan
Website	[1]

The only store of Ma Pak Leung Company Limited at 306 Queen's Road Central

Ma Pak Leung Company Limited (Chinese:馬百良藥廠)) is a company specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). In 1822, the second year of the Emperor Daoguang in Qing Dynasty, their founder, Mr. Ma Zhun Heng established their first pharmacy at Fo Shan in Guangdong, with a history of over two centuries. On the basis of the ancient prescriptions, Ma Pak Leung modified, research and developed variety of TCM in the forms of ointment, pellet, pill, powder, tea, oil, medicated wine and etc. Their factory of TCM production is located in Chai Wan, Hong Kong.

History

A former branch located in Jianglan Street (now Jianglan Road) in Guangzhou

The parent company of Ma Pak Leung, named as Gwai Ning Tong Ma Pak Leung, which was a pharmacy located in Guangdong Foshan district at 1796 (The first year of the Emperor Jiaqing in Qing Dynasty).

In 1822, Ma Pak Leung relocated to Chaoyang Street in Foshan, succeeded by Ma Zhun Heng, the 17th generation under Ma Chung Yan’s genealogy. Ma Zhun Heng expanded the pharmacy to pharmaceutical factory for TCM products production. Their first TCM product is Chut Lee Powder, which treat infantile convulsion, improve digestion and absorption of infants and children, and was highly praised for its high efficacy and fair price. After two or three years of promotion and introduction, it became increasingly popular not only in Foshan, but also in Guangzhou and even Wuzhou in Guangxi.

In 1875, the Ma Pak Leung pharmacy in Guangdong expanded its operations to the provincial capital of Guangzhou and opened its first branch at 69 Yong Han North Road (now Beijing Road). In 1892, a second branch was opened on Jianglan Street (now Jianglan Road) in Guangzhou. Since opening its new store during the Xianfeng era of the Qing dynasty, Gwai Ning Tong Ma Pak Leung has been known for its distinctive sign featuring a marble plaque at its entrance.

The Guangxu era was the heyday of Gwai Ning Tong Ma Pak Leung. The 72 beautifully crafted bronze ceremonial weapons, now still displaying in the main hall of the ancestral temple in Foshan today. All were made at great expense by Gwai Ning Tong Ma Pak Leung in 1899.

In 1910, Guangdong Ma Pak Leung pharmacy participated in a drug exhibition organized by the Nanyang Pharmaceutical Industry Association and won a gold medal in the medical category for "various types of medicine". Its product "Chenpi" (Mandarin peel) also won a silver medal in the medical category.

In 1904, Ma Chung Yue, the son of Ma Ho Zhou, opened a branch at 310 Queen's Road Central in Hong Kong with his personal funds after obtaining his father's permission. He later expanded the pharmacy business with his personal funds, opening branch in Shantou in 1911, Singapore in 1913, Thailand in 1914, a branch and factory in Macau in 1923, and establishing a new factory in Fa Tee (now Fangcun), in Guangzhou in the same year.

In 1936, Ma Chung Yue renamed his privately owned pharmacy business to “Yuet Dung Ma Pak Leung Chung Kee Pharmacy” to differentiate it from Guangdong Ma Pak Leung. He registered his portrait and the "Ma Pak Leung Medicine" logo as a trademark.

During the Sino-Japanese War from 1937 to 1946, both Guangdong Ma Pak Leung and Yuet Dung Ma Pak Leung Chung Kee Pharmacy had to close their branches. After the war, the company gradually resumed operations and its business gradually rose, with its products sold throughout Southeast Asia.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, both Guangdong Ma Pak Leung and Yuet Dung Ma Pak Leung Chung Kee Pharmacy relocated to Hong Kong to continue their operations. In 1958, Yuet Dung Ma Pak Leung Chung Kee Pharmacy was officially registered as Ma Pak Leung Company Limited. In 1988, Guangdong Ma Pak Leung Pharmacy ceased operations and merged its registered trademark "incense burner (Bao Lo Brand)" to Ma Pak Leung Company Limited.

In 1995, Ma Pak Leung Pharmaceutical Factory underwent renovation, introducing modern and high-process equipment. Through standardized process management, the factory evolved from traditional handmade production to semi-automated production.

In 1997, the fifth generation took over the management of Ma Pak Leung Company Limited and launched the 'Three measures of free the collateral vessels', which includes Ma Pak Leung On Kung Pill, Ma Pak Leung Ching Shum Pill, and Ma Pak Leung Choi Cho Pill. These products can be used for prevention, treatment, and first aid purposes.

In 2001, Ma Pak Leung implemented a restructuring strategy in the Hong Kong market that involved augmenting production capacity to minimize costs, expanding sales and distribution networks, and launching a robust brand promotion campaign to augment the historic century-old brand's recognition.

In 2001, a health food factory was established in Huizhou, China, with Ma Pak Leung Pear Loquat Syrup being the most well-known product.

In 2006, the product packaging was redesigned to retain the cultural heritage of the brand's appearance from 180 years ago while changing the color and material used.

In 2019, Ma Pak Leung collaborated with Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) in an R&D project entitled “Autologous Neural Stem Cell (NSCs) Harvest: Precision cell therapies for neurodegeneration in animal model of Parkinson’s disease”, launched by the Innovation and Technology Commission.

In 2021, Ma Pak Leung Company Limited donated HKD 10 million for the establishment of the "Ma Pak Leung Endowed Professorship in Innovative Neuromedicine" at Hong Kong Baptist University. Professor Ken Yung Kin Lam was appointed as Ma Pak Leung Endowed Professor in Innovation Neuromedicine in 2022.

In 2022, Ma Pak Leung Pharmaceutical Factory celebrated its 200th anniversary, with the fifth-generation at the helm.

Product

• Angong Niuhuang Wan
• Pak Fung Pill
• Pear Loquat Syrup
• Seadog Pill

[[Category:Family-owned companies]] [[Category:Companies based in Guangzhou]] [[Category:1822 establishments]]