After the 2003 District Council election the DAB's disastrous performance, the party chairman Tsang Yok-sing resigned from his office and succeeded by Ma Lik.

He did not seek for re-election in the 2016 Legislative Council election along with three other party seniors Tsang Yok-sing, Ip Kwok-him and Chan Kam-lam.

[6] In the same month, Tam condemned Occupy Central co-founder Benny Tai for his remarks on the possibility of Hong Kong independence after the end of "dictatorship" in China.

Tam urged Hong Kong to urgently implement Article 23 of the Basic Law to criminalise a series of acts including sedition, treason and subversion.

[7] In October 2020, Tam said that discussions about Hong Kong independence should not be allowed in schools, and claimed it would violate the National Security Law.

[12] Also in February, Tam linked the city with the CCP, asking "If you oppose the Chinese Communist Party, how can you maintain that you genuinely safeguard the interests of Hong Kong?

"[13] In March 2021, Tam led the "Sign For HK 2021 campaign," which claimed to have collected 2.38 million signatures from those in Hong Kong in support of changes to only allow "patriots" to serve in the government.

[15] After the NPCSC passed legislation to allow only "patriots" to serve in the government, Tam claimed that Hong Kong could continue with democratic development after normality is restored.

[16] In October 2021, Tam stated that "When the foreign powers invaded China in 1900, they looted and burned down the Old Summer Palace in today's Beijing.

[23] Tam later said that he saw no issues with the private party, and instead blamed the crew of Cathay Pacific, as well as Frank Chan Fan for allowing aircrew to quarantine at home.

[25] Tam tested positive for COVID-19 on 30 June 2022, and was unable to attend July 1 celebrations with CCP general secretary Xi Jinping.

[27] In August 2022, after Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and John Lee vowed "The Hong Kong government would fully support and facilitate all necessary measures by Beijing to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tam said Hong Kong did not have much decision making power and that "It depends on what Beijing wants us to do.

"[28] In November 2022, Tam said he would not run for the next NPCSC election, and that he was proud of his previous work on the national security law, as well as electoral reforms.

[35] In December 2022, Tam said that defendants charged under the national security law could have their trials in mainland China if they cannot find a lawyer in Hong Kong.