New head of anti-poverty campaign says Hongkongers must help themselves
Leonie Ki, who believes people have to help themselves, is to head the government campaign to alleviate poverty
"I will fight to my utmost for Hong Kong's interests." That's the vow businesswoman Leonie Ki Man-fung utters when asked to explain her zeal in supporting government initiatives.
Ki's latest act of public service is to oversee Bless Hong Kong, the government's poverty-alleviation campaign.
Launched by the Commission on Poverty in February, the campaign aims to "help the underprivileged, foster the spirit of giving and boost the social mobility of young people".
An advertising-industry veteran who rose to become an executive director of property giant New World Development, Ki has always believed the people of Hong Kong - a city she describes as a "blessed land" - must achieve prosperity by their own hard work, rather than by the government's help.
"The reason I'm willing to [take up Bless Hong Kong] is because I'm worried about Hong Kong," Ki says. "I believe Hong Kong has reached a critical point."
The decision to put her in charge of the campaign surprised many. However, her appointment was not just a reflection of her creative skills; she is also a long-term supporter of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and was a deputy director of his campaign team for the 2012 election.