A radical 28-member group will quit the Democratic Party today.
The group disagreed with the party's vote in favour of the government's electoral reforms in 2012 and the decision not to take part in a campaign of Legco by-elections meant as a 'de facto referendum' on democratisation.
The split ends a feud between mainstream and reformist factions dating to the 1990s. Their resignations, which they will hand in at the party's annual general meeting today, will deprive the Democrats of seven district councillors - leaving them with 53 - and of a former vice-chairman, Chan King-ming.
Party leaders said the move by the 28 so-called Young Turks would not deal a serious blow to the Democrats' work.
Sai Kung district councillor Gary Fan Kwok-wai, a core member of the reformist faction, said the vote for the electoral reforms was the trigger for their departure. The reforms will expand the Legislative Council by 10 seats, to 70. Five of the new seats will be directly elected; the rest will be added to the functional constituency representing district councils.
Fan said those departing had been considering their position since the party's vote for electoral reform but had waited to see the election details before making up their minds.
