Friction between radicals and moderates in the pan-democratic camp is set to deepen in the wake of its disappointing showing in the district council polls.
The People Power group yesterday vowed to take its confrontational approach into next year's Legislative Council election.
One of the group's objectives is to challenge moderate pan-democrats - in particular the Democratic Party, which it wants to 'punish' for compromising with the government on electoral reforms. People Power put up candidates against moderate democrats in 45 seats in Sunday's district council elections.
The strategy had only a minor effect, with the defeat of only four Democratic Party runners attributable to the radicals' rivalry. But it split the vote and tarnished the public image of the pan-democratic camp in general, with political neutrals put off by their public bickering.
It also meant that the camp could not co-ordinate efforts as effectively as the pro-government side - which emerged as the biggest winner.
Wong Yuk-man, the People Power lawmaker who is the person behind the strategy, yesterday admitted that the group had failed to achieve its goal.
But he ruled out any possibility of reconciliation with the Democratic Party and the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood. 'We failed to carry out our political message in the district election ... but our campaign against the two groups will go on in next September's Legco election,' said Wong. 'Co-operation [with the moderates] needs consensus and common beliefs. But there is no such basis among us.'