HONG KONG'S two largest pro-democracy political parties are heading for a major clash in the forthcoming Legislative Council polls.
The Democratic Party and the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL) are now expected to fight each other for at least five seats in the September 17 elections.
It follows both sides' failure to co-operate over tomorrow's election of the Urban Council (Urbco) vice-chairman.
Experts warned this would severely harm both parties' chances of success at the ballot box, and give the pro-Beijing camp a chance to win more seats.
The ADPL, which has six Urbco seats, refuses to support Democratic Party legislator Fred Li Wah-ming for the vice-chairmanship in a move assuring success for his rival, pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) member Ip Kwok-chung It is understood this is in return for the pro-Beijing party's support for ADPL member Mok Ying-fan's election to the Legislative Council through the council's functional constituency seat currently held by Elsie Tu.
The Democratic Party has accused the ADPL of forging an alliance with local leftists.