Speaking in Myanmar in December 2001, Chinese paramount leader Jiang Zemin stated, "I wish that Mr. Tung will get elected.

His campaign manager like Leung Chun-ying, the Convenor of the Unofficial Members of the Executive Council tried to project a more communicative and high-tech image of Tung.

Lau formed the Coalition Against Second Term (CAST) to draw attention to the flawed process of choosing the Chief Executive, the lack of competition and the need for real democracy.

With the SARS epidemics and the controversies over the Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 in 2003 drew a massive anti-government protest on 1 July 2003.

As Jiang Zemin retired from as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (de facto leader), Tung gradually lost his main patron in Beijing and eventually stepped down in 2005.