Those expecting further dramatic revelations had to wait until the afternoon of the inquiry's first day.
Discussion of witnesses' statements and drab debate on the history of polling activities at the University of Hong Kong left sensation seekers decidedly short-changed during most of the morning.
But when pollster Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu finally took the stand a little later than scheduled he did not disappoint.
At the start, there was a surprise when inquiry chairman Mr Justice Noel Power named seven more witnesses to give evidence, but most were quick to ask the panel for better time slots to testify as they were about to start their holidays.
Special adviser to the vice-chancellor Professor Cheung Yau-kai, who was booked on an evening flight, was allowed to jump ahead of Dr Chung to be the first to take the witness stand. But all he could offer was that he did not have a real interest in Dr Chung's polls. He was not even sure what had been discussed in one of the meetings with the vice-chancellor and other pro-vice-chancellors in January.
All eyes were on Dr Chung when he took the stand in the late morning, choosing to give his evidence in Cantonese.