The revelation of media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying's secret contributions to local democrats has shocked the city. The most troublesome appear to be the gifts to Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun (HK$20 million) and Anson Chan Fang On-sang (HK$1.3 million).
His reported donations of more than HK$13.5 million to the Democratic Party from 2006 to last year and over HK$14.5 million to the Civic Party for the same period further demonstrate his anti-China, anti-Hong-Kong-government zeal.
Even in a country like the US, which prides itself on its freedom and democracy, acts of this nature would commonly be regarded as unacceptable.
One can compare Lai's political contributions to those of billionaire George Soros, but Soros does it in a much more transparent manner. Lai, on the other hand, has been working in the dark.