Democrats facing an uphill battle to mend factional turmoil

The Democratic Party has begun discussions with division heads and will hold a party retreat this month to map out this year's strategy to try to recover its once dominant position in Hong Kong politics.

But in one of its first strategic meetings of the year, peace talks between dissenting factions set for Wednesday, more than half of the reformist members have already pledged not to show up.

Newly elected vice-chairman Tik Chi-yuen said the principal challenges this year would be to reunite the party after a series of public fallouts between factions, and win seats in the District Council elections. Wednesday's dinner with the reformist faction is supposed to kick-start a new united front to improve its public image.

Sai Kung district councillor Gary Fan Kwok-wai said he and Tai Po councillors Kwan Wing-yip, Yam Kai-bong and Wong Chun-wai decided against attending the meeting after a late-night gathering of reformists last week.

Chan King-ming, who was defeated in the leadership election, and his defeated running-mate Kwong Kwok-chuen will attend, according to Mr Fan.

Mr Fan said that he and the Tai Po councillors felt that nothing could be achieved by 'just having dinner' and did not want to give the impression that the disputes could be resolved so easily. Mr Fan has been openly critical of the party leadership, saying it lacked a succession plan which obstructed the developing of talent while the big-name party veterans hogged most of the limelight. Mr Kwong said he wanted to improve communication in principle, but still hoped they would discuss concrete proposals at the meeting.