「Why張超雄？」浸會大學社工系講師、文化評論人邵家臻說，這是他近來被問得最多的問題。問題背後，可能是指張超雄人氣不足。別人都說，以邵家臻的「剩餘價值」，如想法多多，有觀眾緣，找個有潛質的候選人「泊碼頭」，回報率更高。

「真是有不少人找過我，但我喜歡自討苦吃！」邵調侃的說。邵回想二人認識，是自月旦時事開始。「當年我以為自己膽正命平，罵罵罵罵罵罵，怎知張超雄竟然在社聯的研討會上發表『社福已死』的論文，張大膽的言論成為一時佳話。」

文化人總是性格巨星，不喜歡為人站台，張超雄吸引邵家臻的，不是群眾簇擁：「他獨來獨往。」不是演說魅力：「他木納呆板。」不是眼光獨到：「他專做政治票房毒藥的議題，如性工作者、小人蛇、綜援等。」邵直言，張超雄吸引之處，是其直正的品格。「政治人格比政治智慧重要。」畢竟，這個社會機關算盡的人太多，邵家臻說，有原則並願為此犧牲的人，總有種不尋常的香氣。

“Why Fernando Cheung?” Bottle Shiu, lecturer in Social Work at the Baptist University said this was the question most frequently put to him in recent months.
What motivates the question is probably the fact that Fernando Cheung cannot be said to be immensely popular. Some may think that Shiu should line up with a candidate with more potential if he wishes to reap optimal returns for his “residue values” such as popular appeal and rich ideas.   

“It is true that many people got in touch with me, but I just enjoy the challenge,” Shiu said. Shiu remembers that it all started when he and Cheung discussed current affairs. “I thought I was being fearless and I just criticized fiercely, but then Fernando declared ‘the death of social welfare’ in a presentation at a forum organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Fernando’s outspokenness raised eyebrows.”

Cultural personalities are always stars with strong character. Bottle Shiu is drawn to Fernando Cheung not for his big following, “he operates alone”; or for the charm of his public speaking, “he is actually quite straight and unentertaining”; or for his acuity, “he always chooses to work on issues that are politically unsavoury, such as problems related to sex workers, illegal child-immigrants and social security assistance.” For Shiu, Cheung’s attractiveness lies in his uprightness. “Political integrity is more important than political wisdom.” After all, there are already too many in society who is calculating, Shiu says, those who are willing to sacrifice for principles somehow have a sort of fragrance to them.