Local patriots have been traveling to Beijing on Belt and Road pilgrimages since state leader Zhang Dejiang visited Hong Kong.
But who would have anticipated the shameful drama played out by a bunch of so-called professionals, under a foundation chaired by Lawrence Ma Yan- kwok, a barrister in the SAR's biggest pro-Beijing party?
Following Ma's boast of the "guns and cannons" that Beijing may use to crack down on any independence attempt, two others on the May 18-21 pilgrimage were caught in an embarrassing sex scandal in the country's capital.
This came to light after the media published photos showing them frolicking intimately with girls in a Beijing karaoke bar after official activities.
It's even clear in one photo that a woman placed her hand on a man's lower region, albeit with his pants still on.
While scenes like that may be common in nightlife circles, they're surely the last thing any political figure would want to be associated with.
Even Ma's highfalutin group, the China-Australia Legal Exchange Foundation, can't be the exception.
The two protagonists caught in the current scandal resigned from the group forthwith, as soon as the photos were publicized.
The good-time Charlies were identified as Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference member, Damien Shea Ying-fai, and Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol senior assistant commissioner Raymond Yung Kai-man.
But who was the culprit leaking the damning photos? It must have been their charming new "acquaintance."
What less clear is whether professional bodies like the Law Society will follow up the matter the way the Bar Association dealt with Ma, after he used foul language to publicly blast lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung in 2013. Ma was suspended for a month at the end of a disciplinary hearing.
Perhaps, Ma should welcome the sex scandal as it surely helps to distract public attention from his alarmist "guns and cannons" comment that has raised many eyebrows - not only in the opposition, but also within the official circles here and in Beijing.
Ma was apparently inaptly quoting Basic Law Committee deputy director Zhang Rongshun. After a private meeting with the official during the Belt and Road study tour, Ma said boastfully that on the question of independence for Hong Kong, Beijing has guns and cannons at its disposal, in addition to the legal means.
I surmise the comment was meant only for private ears, otherwise Basic Law committee member Maria Tam Wai-chu and Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing wouldn't have had to wade in to clean up the mess left by "Big Mouth" Ma.
Tam said Zhang Rongshun had instead ruled out any military option, while Tsang stressed it was contrary to the conciliatory tone Zhang Dejiang had tried to espouse here last week.
Isn't it ironic Ma doesn't seem to understand the central government's intent at all - despite his close links to the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong?
His boast of the mainland's military power is bound to damage the conciliatory effect that Zhongnanhai wants to promote with Zhang Dejiang's trip.
Ma, oh Ma - what an extraordinary comrade he is for Beijing!
