Hong Kong Unlikely to Hold By-Election for Vacant Legco Seat

The Hong Kong government has indicated that it is unlikely to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy left by former lawmaker William Wong Kam-fai’s resignation over his drink-driving and hit-and-run case, citing time constraints and concerns about cost-effectiveness. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa also said on Saturday that the government had received 2,500 submissions during a public consultation on the city’s first five-year plan, with nearly half focusing on livelihood issues. Wong, one of the 40 legislators elected by the 1,500-strong Election Committee, resigned from the legislature earlier this month after crashing his car into two parked vehicles at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and hit-and-run. Asked whether a by-election would be held, Tse hinted that it would be highly improbable, citing a tight timeline, as the current Election Committee’s term ends in October. “When we consider holding a by-election, we have to look at the timing and consider the public’s [perception] of cost-effectiveness,” Tse told a radio programme. “The current Election Committee’s term ends on October 21. Should we ask them to organise a Legco by-election just when their term is about to expire … for the time being, the Electoral Affairs Commission does not think [a by-election] needs to be considered.”