Mainland Aids activist Gao Yaojie visited Hong Kong for the first time yesterday before heading to Manila to watch Chung To, the head and founder of the Chi Heng Foundation of Hong Kong, receive what is often described as Asia's Nobel Prize.
Dr Gao, 80, who nominated Mr To for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, will attend the prize-giving ceremony in Manila on Friday night in her second trip outside the mainland.
It will be a poignant moment for Dr Gao, who received the award in 2003 but was banned from leaving the mainland to collect it.
'When she nominated me and I got it, I wanted to bring her, not as support for me but as compensation to her,' Mr To said yesterday. 'She has told me that to her it's like going to receive the award herself, just with four years' delay.'
His foundation helps children who have lost one or both parents to Aids with schooling and university, nutrition and medicine.
Dr Gao said she had nominated Mr To for two reasons.
'Chung To's work has never been recognised by the Chinese government and up to now he has helped about 4,000 orphans,' she said. 'Some people just help one orphan and become a famous figure. Since Chung To is now becoming famous, maybe he can move the planet.