Career
He was known by many names, including John Pong Shying, Mak Sai Pang, Mai Shi Ying, Mark Opong, and (possibly) John Sheen. He worked as a carpenter, living with John Blaxland on his Newington Estate. After three years, he worked at Elizabeth Farm for Elizabeth Macarthur, the pastoralist.
lieutenant is believed a linen press, made for Elizabeth MacArthur (in 1824), still exists, and is on display at Milton House museum.
The item may have been made without nails. The bookkeepers entry of payment still exists.
Mak Sai Ying returned to China for five years, 1831 to 1836. He may have worked as a port liaison.
The first opium war began two years later.
During this time, land he negotiated for from the NSW Colony had been allocated elsewhere. Sarah had a letter from the Attorney General of NSW explaining why the land had been re allocated. He is known to have negotiated a sale of the Peacock Inn in Parramatta, New South Wales (a western suburb of Sydney) in 1844.
He had been the builder.