Gary Locke is on his way to China when he was spotted by a businessman from Bellevue, Washington state, ZhaoHui Tang ordering his own coffee and carrying his own backpack. Without Locke's knowledge Tang took a shot of him using his iPhone and uploaded it to a Chinese social media site Sina Weibo.
"This is something unbelievable in China," said Tang, a Chinese-American citizen. "Even for low-ranking officials, we don't do things for ourselves. Someone goes to buy the coffee for them. Someone carries their bags for them."
Locke is trying to use a coupon to pay for the coffee he ordered but it was denied by the airport Starbucks and pay in credit card instead.
"I love doing things on my own," said Locke.
Locke is an epitome of a true leader living out of frugality and choose simplicity to show people how sincere he is in his duty as a government official and as an individual.
