Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has addressed the vacancy left by former lawmaker William Wong Kam-fai, who resigned following an arrest for drink-driving. Nearly a month after the resignation, Lee indicated that holding a by-election to fill the seat is not an immediate concern for the administration.

Lee explained that the government must prioritize its current electoral workload, which includes three significant polls slated for the next 18 months. According to the Chief Executive, electoral authorities are tasked with evaluating the necessity of a by-election by considering factors such as available manpower, logistics, and the overall impact on the government’s administrative capacity. While the seat remains empty, the administration has not committed to a timeline for a replacement, emphasizing that the focus remains on the upcoming scheduled electoral cycle rather than individual vacancies.