Ma specializes in Hong Kong politics and democratization. He argues that as ordinary Hong Kong people place economic prosperity over liberty and freedom, the long-term future of "One Country, Two Systems" is in jeopardy.[1] He also criticizes the Government's move to exempt mainland offices and officials free from legal oversight.[2]
"The Making of a Corporatist State in Hong Kong: The Road to Sectoral Intervention." Journal of Contemporary China 46.2 (2016): 247–66.
"Migrants and Democratization: The Political Economy of Chinese Immigrants in Hong Kong." Contemporary Chinese Political Economy and Strategic Relations 2.2 (2016): 909–40. (with Stan Hok-Wui Wong and Wai-man Lam)
"Twenty Years of Functional Elections in Hong Kong: Exclusive Corporatism or Alternative Democratic Form?." Representation 45.4 (2009): 421–33.
"Reinventing the Hong Kong State or Rediscovering It? From Low Interventionism to Eclectic Corporatism." Economy and Society 38.3 (2009): 492–519.
"Civil Society and Democratization in Hong Kong: Paradox and Duality." Taiwan Journal of Democracy 4.2 (2008): 155–75.
"State-Press Relationship in Post-1997 Hong Kong: Constant Negotiation Amidst Self-Restraint." China Quarterly 192 (2007): 949–70.
"Money, Power and Ideas: Think Tank Development and State–Business Relations in Taiwan and Hong Kong." Policy and Politics 34.3 (2006): 535–55. (with Ray Yep)
"Civil Society in Self-Defense: The Struggle against National Security Legislation in Hong Kong." Journal of Contemporary China 14.44 (2005): 465–82.
"SARS and the Limits of the Hong Kong SAR Administrative State." Asian Perspective 28.1 (2004): 99–120.
"The Impact of Electoral Rule Change on Party Campaign Strategy: Hong Kong as a Case Study." Party Politics 9.3 (2003): 347–67. (with Chi-keung Choy)
"A High Degree of Autonomy? Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 1997–2002." Political Quarterly 73.4 (2002): 455–64. (with Ian Holliday and Ray Yep)
^Holliday, Ian; Ma, Ngok; Yep, Ray (2002). "A High Degree of Autonomy? Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 1997–2002". Political Quarterly. 73 (4): 463.
^Holliday, Ian; Ma, Ngok; Yep, Ray (2004). "After 1997: The Dialectics of Hong Kong Dependence". Journal of Contemporary Asia. 34 (2): 258.