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Priest calls Hong Kong’s richest man
‘devil’
THE DEVIL INSIDE:Although the tycoon has pledged to give
millions to the poor, property companies are said to be fudging the size of
residential apartment units
AFP, HONG KONG
Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong’s richest man, gestures
during a presentation on March 30 of his company Hutchison Whampoa’s annual
results in Hong Kong. A Hong Kong Catholic priest has described Li as a “devil.”
PHOTO: AFP
A Hong Kong Catholic priest has called the territory’s richest man, Li Ka-shing
(李嘉誠), a “devil,” weeks after the tycoon made headlines by pledging to give
millions to the poor.
Father Thomas Law (羅國輝) made the remarks after a weekend Halloween party, saying
Hong Kong’s property developers — not spirits — are the real demons, local media
reported.
Law made the remarks in connection with growing criticism that property
companies are fudging the size of residential apartment units in the densely
populated city of 7 million people.
“If Li Ka-shing were to come tonight, that would sure scare the heck out of us,”
the outspoken priest told reporters after the party.
“[He] is the true devil that kills people,” Law added.
Law could not immediately be reached for comment.
The South China Morning Post yesterday quoted Law as saying: “I have nothing to
say about the incident ... But I only hope there will be more angels in Hong
Kong. God hears the prayers of the poor people, but in our city the general
public has no voice, while the rich people do.”
Local media reports have suggested that Li — whose companies own a wide swathe
of interests, including real estate — might sue over the “devil” comments.
However, a spokeswoman for Li’s Cheung Kong (Holdings) told reporters yesterday:
“We have not pressured the Church and we do not intend to sue [them].”
In a letter to the territory’s Catholic Diocese, the conglomerate’s head of
corporate strategy, Gerald Ma (馬勵志), expressed his “disappointment and
helplessness” over Law’s comments.
“We of course respect freedom of speech,” Ma wrote. “But all responsible people,
regardless of their profession and beliefs, should be cautious with their words
and deeds.”
“Like the Catholic Church, Mr Li is passionate in his support for social and
charity work. We do not understand why he is subjected to this unfair
humiliation,” Ma added.
“It is regretful that there are good and bad people in the church, but God still
loves us all,” the letter said.
Vicar-general Michael Yeung (楊鳴章) — the second most senior official in Hong
Kong’s Catholic Church — said the Church has never had negative feelings toward
Hong Kong’s rich, adding that the priest should take personal responsibility for
his remarks, the Singtao daily reported yesterday.
Last month, Li pledged to donate HK$500 million (US$64 million) to a government
fund established to help the poor amid concern over a growing income gap.
The territory’s property tycoons have so far pledged a total of HK$1.3 billion
to the Community Care Fund.
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