Infectious diseases expert Lo Wing-lok has gone out of his way to become a 'man of the people' in preparation for a leadership role in the newly founded League of Social Democrats (LSD).
'Nowadays, I love chatting with the fishmongers and chicken vendors,' said the former medical sector lawmaker. 'I rarely wear a tie any more. Not even to the hospital.'
According to Dr Lo, his new-found passion for grass-roots rights and democracy was inspired by two 'gross injustices' caused by the mainland government in the past few months: the sentencing of his friend, the journalist Ching Cheong, on spying charges and the nomination of Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun to become the director-general of the World Health Organisation.
The events convinced him to join forces with 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung and outspoken former Commercial Radio talk show host Wong Yuk-man.
'Ching Cheong is in jail despite being innocent, while Margaret Chan, who failed so miserably during the Sars crisis, is now being touted as the source of pride and honour for our nation,' said Dr Lo, a long-time critic of Mrs Chan.
'But every political party in Hong Kong still fantasises about the central government and the Communist Party. LSD does not have these naive hopes and expectations. We know the Communist Party will cause only the decay of our society's ethics,' said the man tipped to become LSD's vice-chairman.
Despite his passion, many political analysts are finding it hard to believe a man who spends time investing in real estate and stocks can suddenly turn into a slogan-chanting 'radical' without some sort of ulterior motive.
