It was supposed to be a political exchange but the two sides talked more of love and marriage.
Frederick Fung Kin-kee, of the Association of Democracy and People's Livelihood, likened his request to meet Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee, to a marriage proposal to someone playing hard to get.
But a good-natured Mr Qiao said he was not so easily wooed as there were many potential suitors.
'[Mr Fung] said ... his wish to meet me was similar to the spirit of proposing to his wife five times. I was very touched,' he said.
Continuing his charm offensive, a relaxed Mr Qiao joked his way through yesterday's two-hour forum, an apparent olive branch to the pro-democracy camp.
Beijing has snubbed the camp since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Mr Fung and Democrats Yeung Sum and Martin Lee Chu-ming had sent Mr Qiao letters opposing the Basic Law interpretation and requesting a meeting.