The fall of Rafael Hui Si-yan - from well-respected veteran civil servant and a political heavyweight to corruption suspect - has sent shock waves among civil servants and once again stirred talk of collusion between big money and high power.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption's most high-profile arrests in its history come at a time when the city is riveted with reports of the relationship between senior officials and big business - which many believe are too close for comfort.
Just weeks ago, accusations of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen accepting favours from tycoon friends caused a political storm and forced Tsang to publicly defend himself in Legco.
Tsang's predicament pales in comparison with yesterday's bombshell.
Efficient, smart and beaming with confidence, 64-year-old Hui was until yesterday seen by many as the cream of the crop of Hong Kong's public servants.
He held important posts from the 1970s to 2000, rising to chief secretary under Tsang between 2005 and 2007. He was Tsang's chief strategist in the 2005 chief executive campaign.