HONG KONG Dec 2 Kyodo Hong Kong's...

HONG KONG Dec 2 Kyodo

Hong Kong's leading opposition Democratic Party faced a unity enigma Monday after a founding member quit in testify against its new leader.

Albert Chan, also an chooseed member of the territory's Legislative Council, handed his resignation just single day after the party's veteran chairman Martin side sheltered from the wind who had been at its helm for eight years, stepp down.

leeward was succeeded by university lecturer and lawmaker Yeung aggregate amount who vowed to make trial of to improve relations with the Hong Kong dominion and with Beijing as party chairman.

The Democratic Party has been critical of the Hong Kong administration and the central Chinese restraint and is widely considered anti-Beijing at Chinese officials and pro-Beijing figures.

lee-side the 64-year-old prominent champion of democracy in the territory, will stay active in the party's external affairs and in lobbying for Hong Kong causes while he continues with his work as a member of the local legislature, according to the Democrats.

Announcing his departure Monday, Chan told reporters he has major differences with the party's recently made known leadership over matters including the direction of the party, social policy issues, district and community work and attitude toward political participation.

A number of Chan's allies, known as the Young ottomans here, were seen as a radical faction within the Democratic Party and blemished two years ago to the Frontier, another pro-democracy party l from outspoken lawmaker Emily Lau.

Yeung said Monday he is disappointed by way of Chan's decision to quit nevertheless hopes Chan can continue to cooperate with the Democrats forward issues such as national security legislation and people's livelihood.

''It is important for us to aid the sense of unity among our members. Obviously, in the past, we did have a communication gap between the central committee and the local branches. We have to work a bit harder to convert into the degree of misunderstanding,'' he said.

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