Former Presidential Office -secretary-general Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) and other pro--independence activists yesterday told a gathering over afternoon tea that they had raised more than NT$23 million (US$769,000) for political commentator Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒) over the past week alone, easily beating the initial objective of NT$5 million.

Chin, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August and is undergoing treatment, received a warm welcome when he appeared at the party and bowed to express his appreciation.