Beijing:
A masked woman in Hong Kong has become the talk of the town for distributing food and money among the poor at night while dressed in black tights, gloves and boots, as local people are speculating about her actual identity,
Shanghai Daily reported.
The woman, who calls herself "Bauhinia Heroine" after the city flower of Hong Kong, distributed canned food, instant noodles and cash gifts of 100 HK dollars (about $13) to each slum resident in Sham Shui Po district and Jordan area in Yau Tsim Mong district, in surprise visits during the night.
She told the Hong Kong media she opted to do so as she felt that the Hong Kong government's poverty alleviation policy was inadequate.
She said her appearance was inspired by Black Rose, a 1965 film starring Connie Chan Po-chu who played a woman who steals money from the rich to aid the poor. However, she claimed that the money she distributed had been earned from her businesses.
Admitting to being a rich businesswoman born in a famous family in Hong Kong, she said she wore mask to avoid being recognised by the media.
"I hide my identity because I don't want others to say my purpose was to make myself and my family famous," she said, adding that even her family didn't know she was the Bauhinia Heroine.
She said she hoped her act could encourage more people to help the poor in the city.