Without doubt the most bizarre benefactor in Hong Kong is self-made multi-millionaire Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who for some years now has dished out large dollops of dough to many of the quirky "pan-democrats" whose obstructionist tactics and shameless behavior has turned our Legislative Council (LegCo) into a caricature of a legislature.

An odd thing about people like Lai, who suddenly burst onto the publishing scene, is that they usually have an axe to grind - and they usually grind it by using the power of the press to influence important developments in their own cities and countries. Through their publications they subtly push for people or projects that they favor, and not so subtly "blacken" the images of people, parties, beliefs or proposals they dislike.

In particular these so-called media barons take delight in meddling in politics. They somehow believe they know better than the leaders of their countries where they wield their pernicious influence, forever trying to twist important decisions in their own favor. To find an example of an international media meddler on a grand scale we need look no farther than Rupert Murdoch, who unashamedly influences developments on either side of the Atlantic as well as in his birthplace, Australia - where he is nick-named "the Dirty Digger".

Unlike Murdoch, Lai was not born with a "silver spoon in his mouth". He was smuggled into Hong Kong as a penniless lad of 12 and is acutely conscious of the power he can exert thanks to the many millions he has accrued in his lifetime. And he is no skinflint when it comes to signing juicy checks for selected recipients.

Since 2011 we have been aware that every year he splashes out millions to his "pet" pan-dems and finds other trouble-making "causes" to support. Current revelations suggest he is indirectly funding part of the "Occupy Central" campaign, having apparently slipped co-organizer the Reverend Chu Yiu-ming HK$400,000 to keep the "Occupy" pot on the boil. Bearing in mind that the ultimate aim of "Occupy" is to cause as much chaos as possible across the city's Central business district, it seems logical to question whether Lai might also have been financially involved in any of the other recent examples of mischief-making on our streets, much of it aimed at mainland visitors.

Certainly Lai has exhibited some egocentric whims when choosing persons and causes to enjoy his largesse. Some years ago recipients of his handouts included former Catholic cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun. Then last year former US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz conveniently joined Lai and his party of negotiators on a "fishing expedition" to Myanmar to sound out its government on business opportunities. Lai and Wolfowitz got to meet the country's president, Thein Sein, and senior generals. A contented Lai later popped a check for $75,000 into the US's pocket, as well as picking up the tab for all his traveling expenses for the trip.

There was a time back in the Giordano days when Lai kept a young pet bear caged in his Kowloon home. As the bear grew older and potentially more dangerous he had no choice but to send it, reluctantly, to a proper facility. So, drawing on the lesson of how that bear was removed from Lai's home and safely penned where it no longer posed a risk, may we ask the following questions:

- When will LegCo take firm action to regulate donations made to its members, including full mandatory disclosure?

- Which official body will be responsible for enforcing those regulations, and what penalties will be imposed when they are flouted?

- Will an investigation be held to establish whether there is any connection between the recently exposed donations made to LegCo members and their subsequent misbehavior in the chamber?

- At present there appears to be an obvious loophole by which donations can be made to a certain party, as opposed to an individual. When and how will this loophole be closed?

The author is a veteran current affairs commentator.

(HK Edition 07/28/2014 page1)