Earlier this week, Ma quickly put the rumour to rest. Speaking to reporters in Hong Kong, he appeared physically precarious – Ma is razor-thin and standing about five feet tall – yet animated and forceful, with bulging forehead and expressive, restless hands. His speech was both patriotic and diplomatic, colloquial yet clearly well-planned. He explained that he had no plans to emigrate. "Hangzhou is where I was born, went to school and started my business," he said, speaking of his coastal Chinese hometown.
"I didn't know whether to laugh or cry" at the reports, he said later.