Hong Kong's triads, dubbed 'the black society' in Chinese, have rarely appeared blacker than in this sequel to last year's sole superb local production.

Director-producer Johnnie To Kei-fung, aided by screenwriters Yau Nai-hoi and Yip Tin-sing, paints a disturbing yet riveting portrait of the inner workings of the underworld. Like most sequels, it falls short of the heights scaled in part one, but nevertheless remains one of the few cinematic bright spots so far this year. It's more ostensibly allegorical than its predecessor, and the final reel's bold political allusions partially compensate for the story's lack of tautness.

Like Election, the narrative centres on the biannual quasi-democratic election of a faction's chieftain. The two-year term of Lok (Simon Yam) - the victor in Election - is about to expire and he doesn't plan to retire gracefully. There's an impressive array of challengers, comprising friends, foes and manipulators, primarily the overseas-educated chief executive-type Jimmy (Louis Koo) and the thuggish, streetwise Kun (Gordon Lam).

Of even greater consequence is the Communist Party, as represented by a Public Security Bureau chief (You Yong) who likes elections to be run Chinese-style - that is, with the winner known in advance. Others in the game include a near-psychotic hit man (Nick Cheung Ka-fai), a bungling mobster (Lam Suet), a cash-obsessed assassin (Mark Cheng Ho-nam), and the rotund string-pulling elder (Wong Tin-lam) who nearly stole the show first time around from the nominal stars and is woefully underutilised in the sequel.

It's a case of too many intriguing characters and too many plot strands, none of which leaves as indelible an impression as the central battle between Lok and Big D (Tony Leung Ka-fai) in Election. There are many captivating sequences, and a cruelty that surpasses its far-from-prim predecessor. But whereas Election was a masterful course in tight storytelling, Election 2 is both more far-ranging and less focused.

For the usually apolitical Hong Kong cinema, the political currents are akin to a celluloid jolt. One is constantly delighted and astounded by the audacity of the cadres' behaviour and dialogue, with hints that the Communist Party is probably the overlord of all. The film's Chinese title is an allusion to the party's current diction on peace and harmony.

In an era when the local movie industry seems all too eager to forsake its individuality for access to the mainland box office, To displays real integrity. Uncompromising in content (the on-screen violence earned it a Category III rating and the sensitive subject matter precluded a mainland release), Election 2 is a welcome reminder of just how powerful Hong Kong movies can be.

Election opens tomorrow