Leung Kwok-hung, known better as Long Hair, has emerged as a serious contender in the New Territories East constituency in his second attempt to bring an anti-establishment voice into the chamber.
He may have been defeated by a small margin of 7,000 votes in the 2000 polls, yet the activist basked in the media limelight with his eloquence, insight and individual approach to campaigning. He got more than 18,000 votes, or 5.92 per cent of the vote.
According to a poll conducted by Lingnan University's public governance programme, the popularity of Mr Leung has surged in the seven-seat constituency the second time around.
Programme head Li Pang-kwong said five seats looked to have already been secured - they will likely go to Andrew Cheng Kar-foo, Emily Lau Wai-hing and Ronny Tong Ka-wah of the democratic camp; James Tien Pei-chun of the Liberal Party; and Lau Kong-wah of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong.
The remaining two seats will be fiercely contested by Mr Leung, non-affiliated Andrew Wong Wang-fat and Wong Sing-chi, who ranks fourth on the democratic list.
Mr Leung flew the anti-Tung banner in the 2000 election, but this time around has widened his aim to include pro-government candidates from the DAB and the Liberal Party. His questioning of Mr Tien over alleged collusion between government and business has been a constant theme in election forums. He challenged the tycoons' understanding of the plight of the poor. He portrayed himself as a man of the people, for the people.