2017 debate widens rift between Ronny Tong Ka-wah and Civic Party

To quit or not to quit the Civic Party? That is the question Ronny Tong Ka-wah faces almost every time he enters the city's heated electoral reform debate.

This year is no different, especially after the relatively moderate lawmaker put forward a compromise reform proposal which would not allow the public to nominate chief executive hopefuls for the 2017 poll - contrary to pan-democrats' demands.

Tensions between the Civic Party and Tong escalated after he publicly criticised pan-democrat calls for a three-track nomination system for chief executive candidates - including a nominating committee as well as public and party nominations - as unreasonable.

"I did not betray Hongkongers," Tong, sounding close to tears, said in response to criticism of his own reform proposal. "It is especially heartbreaking to be blamed by pan-democrat allies."

He got emotional, he later explained, because his treatment reminded him of the experience of Szeto Wah, the late democracy icon and central figure in the Democratic Party.

"During the 'de facto referendum' movement, Szeto - who opposed the movement and supported the electoral reform proposal [for last year's Legco elections] - was told that his cancer cells had spread to his brain," Tong said. "But at least his party stood by his side backing him. I do not have this luck today."

Tong put forward his electoral reform plan in October. Ignoring public nomination, it focused on increasing the representativeness of the nominating committee. He suggested expanding the current 1,200-strong Election Committee, by including all popularly elected district councillors, to form the nominating committee.