DEMOCRAT MICHAEL HO MUN-KAR was not just being humble when he said his decision not to stand in the forthcoming Legislative Council polls would only pose a small problem for the Democrats. In fact, the pro-democracy flagship has other bigger headaches to contend with.
A rift over policy issues as well as who should stand in September's elections has widened recently, while opinion surveys show the popularity of the party and its leader, Martin Lee Chu-ming, falling.
Though it remains the largest political party in the legislature, with 13 seats, its main rival - the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) - is steadily gaining ground in terms of influence and resources and is expected to gain more seats in the new Legco.
Core members have given gloomy forecasts of the party's likely performance in September's polls - the second after the handover - and warned that there is a real danger of losing its status as the leading party to the DAB.
Long before nominations for the elections formally open next month, the party has become embroiled in a bitter row over its list of candidates for the five geographical constituencies. Tsang Kin-shing, nicknamed 'The Bull', and a core Young Turk representing the more radical faction within the Democrats, decided to quit the party to run on his own. He did not survive the vote of confidence in a district branch that was necessary for his candidature to be considered in the election list.
During the party general meeting that drew up the final line-up, his colleague Chan Kwok-leung withdrew from the candidacy list headed by Martin Lee Chu-ming in protest against what he attacked as the 'undemocratic' way of selection. The Young Turks were particularly angry with party vice-chairman, Yeung Sum, and had earlier sought - unsuccessfully - to move a motion of no-confidence in him.