Yesterday's Exco reshuffle spoke volumes about the political conundrum facing Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.
He knew he had to deliver on his pledge in his latest policy address to bring in new faces to the top advisory body to help promote effective governance and shore up public trust in the government.
And with the administration's popularity hovering in an uncomfortable area, naming prominent, fresh names to his team could help boost the feel-good sentiment.
That said, Mr Tsang also understood well that the political and practical effects of his Exco reshuffle gambit have become increasingly marginal, if not insignificant, in view of the profound changes in Hong Kong politics. A senior government official hit the nail on the head when he admitted government popularity would hardly rise by several percentage points even if a pan-democrat rival was appointed to Exco.
It is bordering on political naivety to suggest that Mr Tsang and his advisers held out hopes that the appointment of Lau Wong-fat, who represents rural body the Heung Yee Kuk in Legco, would increase their political capacity in dealings with the legislature.
Faced with a more fragmented legislature and a more volatile political atmosphere, Mr Tsang has apparently dropped the idea of co-opting his major allies in Legco onto Exco.