Hong Kong political veteran Elsie Tu criticises tycoons with no conscience

Political veteran Elsie Tu laments the widening income disparity in Hong Kong and has taken a shot at tycoons who have no conscience.

The former lawmaker and urban councillor, who turns 100 on June 2, became emotional when expressing sympathy for striking dock workers and anger with a billionaire, whom she declined to name.

"I think shame on you. Why should you have [billions of dollars] when the poor can't even buy meat for their children's food?" she said. "How could you have [billions of dollars] and still want more? The dockers are getting so little and their conditions are disgraceful."

Hundreds of dockers have been fighting for more than three weeks for a pay rise and better working conditions from port operator Hongkong International Terminals, a unit of Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa.

Tu, born in Newcastle, England, settled in Hong Kong in 1951 after three years of missionary work on the mainland. She is perceived by some as pro-Beijing and became known for her antipathy towards colonialism and corruption as well as her fight for the underdog and work in education.

Years on, she sighs about the widening income gap.