Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Only) Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$ (24,396)	$ 3,750	$ (12,002)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes		100,000
Debt issuance cost	(14)	(3,659)
Purchases of A ordinary shares	(805)	(333)	(139)
Tax benefit on share-based compensation expense	127	10	37
Redemption of ordinary shares		(189,770)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(9,692)	(192,779)	74,571
Cash flows from investing activities activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities	381,389	647,404	415,739
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	42,161	197,243	(109,238)
Net change in cash and equivalents	8,073	8,214	(46,669)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67,037	58,823	105,492
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	75,110	67,037	58,823
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	1	95,891	(1,598)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes		100,000
Debt issuance cost		(3,659)
Purchases of A ordinary shares		(333)	(139)
Tax benefit on share-based compensation expense		10	37
Redemption of ordinary shares		(189,770)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities		(93,752)	(102)
Cash flows from investing activities activities:
Proceeds from disposition of subsidiaries	456
Capital contribution to a subsidiary	(450)
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities	84
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	90
Net change in cash and equivalents	91	2,139	(1,700)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,185	46	1,746
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 91	$ 2,185	$ 46