Of the new appointees to the Executive Council, the talk of the town is Lau Wong-fat, the long-standing chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk, representing rural politics in Hong Kong. Mr Lau is clearly basking in the glory of having reached the pinnacle of success even as controversy rages about his appointment.
It has been claimed that his elevation was part of a bargain in which the Heung Yee Kuk's candidate stepped aside in last year's Legislative Council election, to give another pro-government candidate a better chance of winning a seat. While this is denied by both Mr Lau and the government, they will not be able to live it down so easily.
What happened remains fresh in the public's mind. Mr Lau was initially very unhappy about the pressure being put on him and the Heung Yee Kuk for their candidate to leave the field. There was much huffing and puffing about how the august body could not be pushed around. In the end, they appeared to have been placated.
Subsequently, rumours began to circulate that 'a promise had been made', possibly by Beijing, that Mr Lau would be rewarded with an Exco seat. Some people found the rumour hard to believe as they did not think Mr Lau would be a suitable appointment to advise the chief executive on public policy. The public may find him unappealing, but Mr Lau is a wily and dominant character in rural affairs.
Perhaps Mr Lau's appointment is part of today's realpolitik. The fact that the Heung Yee Kuk did not step aside quietly was a sign that its docility cannot be taken for granted. The appointment may not have been just about doing a deal during the election; it may also be about ensuring Mr Lau can deliver the Heung Yee Kuk's continuing support for the government and ensure harmony from the rural elites over the next few years.
Whatever the truth, it is hard to deny that the appointment has stirred up a hornets' nest. There is the question of where pressure came from during the election. Beijing's fingerprints seem to be all over the issue. This leads to questions about how the bargain was made. Whose idea was it to offer him a seat on Exco? Certainly, none of the key players have come out well: Beijing's apparent machinations never go down well; the chief executive is seen as weak by seemingly accepting the idea.