As early as in the late-1950s, Ho Meng-hua (1929-2009) began to work for Shaw & Sons. He joined Shaw Brothers subsequently and initiated the ideas for his two films, Rendezvous in the South Sea (1960) and Malayan Affair (1960). The films Ho directed were mostly made in accordance with Shaw’s commercial strategy. For instance, to keep in line with the increasing popularity of martial arts films in the 1960s, he made numerous films of this genre in response. The Jade Raksha (1968) and Bloody Mask (1969) were made under these circumstances. In the 1970s, seeing the rise of mystery films, Ho made several box office successes of the mystery genre, including The Kiss of Death (1973), Black Magic (1975) and Black Magic, Part II (1976). He was one of the most prolific directors under the Shaw studios. In May 2009, Ho Meng-hua died of illness at the age of 80.