Despite the pessimistic forecasts, voters have given their strongest message that they want to make a difference to the way the SAR is governed.
Many of the 1.49 million people who cast their votes yesterday may not expect the new Legco to come up with magic solutions.
But they still want their voices heard.
This has become more important to voters, many of whom returned representatives in the 1995 election only to see them kicked off the 'through train' at the handover.
Even with a less democratic electoral system than in 1995, voters cherished their right to choose and to be counted.
A considerable number of the ballots will have been so-called 'vengeance votes' cast by those frustrated with the unpopular decision to set up the provisional legislature and who voted yesterday for legislators ousted last July.
