Tung Chee-hwa's agreement to officiate at a Labour Day reception hosted last night by the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), throws up several interesting questions.
Does it, as Democrats claim, give an unfair advantage to the FTU's sister group, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), to have the chief executive pressing the flesh? Or is it the kiss of death for DAB candidates contesting next month's elections? Democratic Party candidates appear to be furious. Only weeks ago Mr Tung halted their regular meetings in the interests of maintaining neutrality in the election run-up.
Noting that some FTU leaders, including Tam Yiu-chung and Chan Yuen-han, will contest next month's polls for the DAB, the Democrats accused Mr Tung of double standards.
They argue that Mr Tung's attendance at the FTU reception gives the impression he endorses the candidates present at the function, hence indirectly helping the DAB candidates canvass for votes.
However, given the poor popularity ratings accorded Mr Tung and his administration on a number of livelihood issues in the past few months, it is doubtful whether such a perceived link is an advantage for the left-wing party.
For the DAB, the association with Mr Tung can be an asset only if the party can succeed in pushing the executive to meet most, if not all, their demands and wishes. But this has not happened.
And on the most pressing issues facing Hong Kong now, such as the deteriorating unemployment situation, the Government's lack of a credible solution can only leave the public with the impression that the DAB's bargaining power with the executive is no more than that of any group not seen to enjoy the same close relationship with Mr Tung.