the ptu was found in 1972 as an instrument for tsin sai-nin to gather teachers' votes in the 1973 urban council election, as tsin was opposed by the hong kong teachers' association. after tsin was elected, he quit the ptu preparatory committee and the chairmanship was succeeded by szeto. szeto became the first chairman elected in 1974 and assumed its position until 1990. he was seen by journalist louise do rosaio as "a dictatorial leader...in most meetings he monopolises the talking, with detail of his plan, strategies well-sorted out before his colleagues start to comprehend the basic outline."