The two front runners in the chief executive election escalated their warfare last night over Henry Tang Ying-yen's inflammatory accusation that Leung Chun-ying wanted to use riot police and tear gas against demonstrators.
The second televised chief executive election debate was more focused on policy issues, but the exchange of accusations started flying from the very beginning of the two-hour face-off.
Tang, the former chief secretary, last night accused Leung of making libellous comments, on Saturday, when Leung said he was seeking legal advice on whether Tang had breached election rules by making false statements in Friday night's debate.
Leung was referring to Tang's accusation that during a 'high-level meeting' in 2003 he had talked of using riot police and tear gas against demonstrators who were opposed to the introduction of national security legislation.
Tang also accused Leung on Friday of proposing to shorten Commercial Radio's licence renewal term, in an attempt to suppress free speech.
He said Leung had insisted on pushing ahead with the national security legislation even after half a million Hongkongers had marched against the controversial legislation.