The passage of the political reform package has brought drastic changes to Hong Kong's political ecosystem. And the imminent expansion of the Legislative Council by 10 seats will most likely lead to more fearsome political wrestling among various parties.
Any candidate could have a shot at Legco as long as he or she secures around 5 per cent of the votes. This explains why there has been increased infighting and power struggles within many parties. The disagreements have little to do with ideology; it all comes down to vested interests because many fear the electoral reform will disadvantage them. The only party that has remained unaffected so far is the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
The League of Social Democrats is finally splitting after months of infighting and bitter rows. Founding chairman Wong Yuk-man and founding member Albert Chan Wai-yip have quit, taking with them hundreds of members who are also displeased with the party chief, Andrew To Kwan-hang.
They have vowed to form a new group, People's Force, to 'strive for genuine democracy', and 'go after' the Democratic Party by competing with it in the district council elections later this year.
The Democratic Party recently suffered a serious setback with the mass exodus of up-and-coming members and those from the New Territories East branch. Disenchanted members subsequently formed a new political grouping, the NeoDemocrats.
We also have the New People's Party, an alliance between legislator Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee's Savantas Policy Institute and former Liberal Party member Michael Tien Puk-sun. The party pledges to focus on building a 'quality' democratic system in Hong Kong.