Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen drew inspiration from the international politics of the 1960s and 1970s to expound his vision of the 'third way' for Hong Kong politics during his policy address.
Revisiting the aftermath of the political and ideological rivalry in the heyday of the cold war, he said: 'People have turned their back on political, economic and social extremes' in a search for a middle ground, or 'third way'.
'I firmly believe in justice, equality and liberty. We should steer the middle course ... adopt a moderate approach to balance the various interests of society, and seek collaboration and consensus in the political, economic and social arenas rather than resort to confrontation, struggle and conflict.'
Mr Tsang's reference to the 'third way' drew scorn from League of Social Democrats legislator Wong Yuk-man during a Legislative Council session.
Mr Wong ridiculed the chief executive, saying he did not understand what the term 'third way' meant. In reply, Mr Tsang said: 'My way may not be your way. The direction I want to take is not extreme left, nor extreme right, but one that represents our middle-class majority - that's my way.'
Mr Tsang's allusion to notions like a 'middle course', 'moderate approach' and 'middle-class majority' bear a striking resemblance to the time of Tung Chee-hwa.
In his mea culpa policy address in 2005, Mr Tung pledged to 'properly balance the interests of different social sectors'.