Tsang could not have painted a more different picture yesterday to that of 1995, when he first shot to prominence. Then, Hong Kong's last governor Chris Patten had just promoted him to financial secretary, the first Chinese to hold the third-ranking position in government. He continued in the role after the handover and was soon confronted with the Asian financial crisis, which he handled with success.

Six years later, he rose to be chief secretary, after his predecessor Anson Chan Fang On-sang quit the team of chief executive Tung Chee-hwa.

Little was achieved during Tsang's time as the city's second-ranking official. When severe acute respiratory syndrome broke out in 2003, he was made leader of a citywide clean-up campaign and became captain of Team Clean, for which he was ribbed rather than recognised.

Such public mockery, however, did not stop Tsang's ascent to the top. In 2005, his boss Tung resigned amid plummeting popularity. A few months later, Tsang emerged the only potential successor to succeed him, embraced by a public then swept up by nostalgia for a bygone era of career administrators.

Tsang enjoyed a popularity honeymoon in his first two-year stint inherited from the remainder of Tung's term.

His eloquence did not go unnoticed by the public or the media, as he posed philosophical questions about the city.

In an election speech in 2005, he asked rhetorically about whether it had lost its sense of direction: "Is this the Hong Kong that we know of? Is this the Hong Kong that we take great pride in?"

But by 2007, soon after his re-election, support began to wane.

The public's confidence in his leadership was shattered in dramatic fashion in his final days on Hong Kong's political stage.

His allegedly close dealings with business tycoons and stays at luxury hotel suites overseas at public expense came to light. Tsang allegedly withheld from government his deal to rent a luxury apartment in Shenzhen from businessman Wong, after Tsang's Executive Council awarded the digital broadcasting licence to DBC, of which Wong was a major shareholder.

Denying policy favouritism, Tsang escaped impeachment and a vote of no confidence by the legislature.

A month before his term came to an end in July 2012, Tsang fought back tears as he offered "sincere apologies" over the scandal in what amounted then to the most humiliating moment of his public life.

Tsang then disappeared from the limelight throughout the three years of official investigations - until last month. He attended the national military parade in Beijing commemorating the 70th anniversary of the second world war's conclusion.

On October 1 he showed up at the National Day reception, fuelling rumours about his fate.

Yesterday, he made his first court appearance, holding the hand of his wife Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei and telling the media: "My conscience is clear. I have every confidence that the court will exonerate me after its proceedings."

READ MORE: 'My conscience is clear': Former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang confident court will clear him of misconduct charges over luxury flat lease

His wife lamented that Tsang had been "dragged into a whirlpool" even though the couple had "longed for peace and tranquility in retirement, away from politics". She also lambasted what she described as daily harassment for the past 3-1/2 years.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who had worked with him over the years, offered words of support to Tsang and asked the media to respect his privacy.

"I was privileged to work closely with Mr Tsang in two periods of time, both before and after the handover," Lam said haltingly, her voice at times breaking with emotion. "I can tell everyone: in his service to society, Mr Tsang spared no effort to work hard for Hong Kong."

With the case now before the courts, more details will emerge as to what exactly drew Tsang into the centre of the whirlpool.

THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF DONALD TSANG

Born in Hong Kong

Joins British Hong Kong government

Appointed as assistant financial secretary

Seconded to Asian Development Bank in Manila

Graduates from Harvard University with master's degree in public administration

Becomes Sha Tin district officer

Becomes deputy secretary in then general duties branch, responsible for implementation of Sino-British Joint Declaration

Promoted to treasury secretary

Becomes first Chinese to serve as financial secretary after 150 years of British monopoly in role

Receives British knighthood for distinguished service to Hong Kong

Works with Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, then Monetary Authority chief executive, to buy shares in market amid war against speculators attacking Hong Kong's currency peg

Promoted to chief secretary, succeeding Anson Chan Fang On-sang

Leaves civil service for team of principal officials under government's new accountability system, still holding post of chief secretary. Receives Grand Bauhinia Medal from post-handover government

Leads citywide clean-up campaign during severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis, a role that wins more public mockery than recognition

Leads political reform that is voted down by legislature in the end

Becomes Hong Kong's second chief executive, succeeding Tung Chee-hwa

Re-elected as chief executive

Second attempt at electoral reform is approved by legislature

Comes under ICAC investigation

Charged by ICAC with two counts of misconduct in public office