The politics of the constitutional reforms have dominated Hong Kong agenda since the handover, as the pro-democrats demanded all along an early implementation of universal suffrage for the CE and LegCo elections.
Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang succeeded in an uncontested election with the controversy over NPCSC's constitutional interpretation.
[1] The Fifth Report of the Task Force on Constitutional Development proposed limited reforms to the electoral methods for the 2007 and 2008 CE elections as constrained by the April 2004 NPCSC verdict.
Tsang's proposal were to be implemented upon LegCo's approval of the Government's bill on amending Annexes I and II of the Basic Law.
Although hardliners in the camp refused to make any concession[5] In the following weeks, the political winds shifted abruptly to a radical direction.
A week later, a political advertisement appeared on front pages of several newspapers showing a sandglass in black background with one written phrase: "Tell me, would I live to see universal suffrage?
The claimed to veto the proposal unless the appointment system in the District Councils was abolished and a clear road map and timetable were offered.
On 21 December 2005, the proposal was turned down with 24 democrats voted en bloc against it, although there were continuing rumours that some might switch their position and supported it, except for Lau Chin-shek who abstained.