Where have you come from and what are you doing, Father Franco Mella? This is a fair question to ask the Italian priest who has, for the past 26 years, seemingly popped up in Hong Kong every time there is a dispute between the Government and the people.
It is also something that many people must have wondered having seen him prominently featured this week on television and in newspapers as he campaigns alongside the children of mainland parents, refusing to go home until their right of abode is granted.
In fact, since last Saturday when the dispute started, he has hardly left his campsite at the Central Government Offices, except to join protesters on a march to the Immigration Department or to lead them into government offices to hand over petitions to legislators.
Dressed in some worse-for-wear corduroy trousers and a blue shirt, shoes that are obviously broken and a headband, he looks so out of place - the only silver-haired head in a sea of dark hair.
During the day Father Mella hangs out with the crowd, talking, giving instructions and advice in fluent Cantonese and Putonghua. He bustles around rather like an army general or some incongruous-looking figure of authority dispensing advice on how to beat the system. He meets members of the international press and gives statements on behalf of the people, taking the media into the heart of the action.
At night he throws his blankets alongside the protesters and sleeps with them. The only luxury he allows himself, every day or two, is a quick shower at the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions house in the evenings.