Hong Kong says no by-election for former lawmaker's seat

Hong Kong's government will likely not hold a by-election to fill the seat left vacant by former lawmaker William Wong Kam-fai, who resigned after a drink-driving and hit-and-run incident. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa stated on Saturday that time constraints and cost-effectiveness are the main reasons for not holding the election. The decision comes as Hong Kong prepares for its first five-year plan, with the government having received 2,500 submissions during a public consultation. Nearly half of the submissions focused on aspects of the plan, though specific details were not disclosed. Wong, a former member of the Legislative Council (Legco), stepped down after being convicted for hit-and-run and drink-driving offenses. His resignation has left a vacancy in the geographical constituency he represented, but the government believes that holding a by-election would not be practical given the current schedule and the costs involved. The government's stance is that resources should be directed towards more pressing matters, including the ongoing consultation for the city's development plan.