Even before his victory, Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun believed he had the upper hand in his battle with a non-affiliated incumbent in the Peak constituency of Central and Western.
Mr Tien, 52, running for the first time in direct elections, was up against accountant Louis Leung Wing-on, 38.
His confidence began to run high when he found many of those voting were his backers - some of them long-time friends.
Outside the polling station at the German Swiss International School at the Peak, his wife, Mary, braved morning gusts to greet the voters.
Also helping were former party chairman Allen Lee Peng-fei, vice-chairman Ronald Arculli and Executive Councillor Henry Tang Ying-yen.
About 60 campaign aides dressed in blue T-shirts and waved yellow flags at passing traffic.
Among the early birds who cast their ballots were Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fang On-sang, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and his wife, Betty, and Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming.
