Wong Kam-fai Resigns | LegCo Changes to 89 Seats Again, Opinions Divided on Need for By-election, Scholar: One or Two Fewer Is Fine

Wong Kam-fai, who joined the Legislative Council through a by-election at the end of 2022, announced his resignation after only six months in office due to a drunk driving incident, reducing the Legislative Council to 89 seats again. The establishment and academics have differing opinions on whether a by-election should be held at this stage, with some hoping for a quick by-election, while others believe that using a large amount of public funds for a by-election due to personal misconduct could cause public backlash.

Wong Kam-fai Resignation｜Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau: Maintaining Communication with the Election Commission, Considering By-election Arrangements in a Timely Manner Based on Actual Circumstances

In response to our inquiry today (4th), the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, as usual, only stated that it would maintain communication with the Election Commission and consider the relevant arrangements in a timely manner based on actual circumstances. It also said that the government will continue to work sincerely with the eighth Legislative Council, and under the principles of executive-led governance and "patriots administering Hong Kong," the executive and legislative branches will jointly build a better Hong Kong.

Wong Kam-fai Resignation｜Lau Siu-kai Worries That Using a Large Amount of Public Funds for a By-election Due to Personal Misconduct Could Cause Social Backlash

Wong Kam-fai resigned just six months after the current term of Legislative Council members began. Lau Siu-kai, a consultant for the National Hong Kong and Macau Research Association, assessed that a by-election would not be held as a result, frankly stating that using a large amount of public funds for another by-election due to one person's serious misconduct could cause social backlash. He believed that having one or two fewer members would not be a problem, just as when Yuen U-sang, a member of the Election Committee constituency in the previous term, resigned and no by-election was held.

▲ After Wong Kam-fai's resignation, the Legislative Council again becomes 89 seats. (File photo)

Wong Kam-fai Resignation｜Regina Ip Hopes for a Quick By-election; Ronny Tong: Need to Consider Legislative Council Operations, etc.

Executive Council Convener and New People's Party Chairperson Regina Ip hopes for a by-election as soon as possible, believing that the new term of the Legislative Council has only been in operation for a few months, with more than three years remaining. She thinks that the scale of the Legislative Council by-election would not be too large, and the resource requirements would not be too significant. Another election committee member who declined to be named suggested that if a by-election is desired, it could be considered to coincide with the Election Committee election in September to save public resources.

Executive Council member and senior counsel Ronny Tong also supports a by-election, believing that the term still has a considerable amount of time remaining. However, the by-election must consider factors such as the use of public funds and Legislative Council operations, emphasizing respect for the Hong Kong SAR government's approach.

Wong Kam-fai Resignation｜Executive Council Member: Wait Until After the Hong Kong Government's Change of Term Next Year Before Considering

Another Executive Council member believes that a by-election will not be held at this stage, but rather after the Hong Kong government's change of term next year, to see if any more lawmakers will switch tracks to join the government, and then hold a by-election all at once.

In the previous term, a by-election was held on December 18, 2022, due to three lawmakers switching tracks to become officials. Wong Kam-fai participated in that by-election and entered the Election Committee constituency. On December 27 of the same year, then-Election Committee constituency member Yuen U-sang resigned to become the Director of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit. The government did not hold a by-election afterward. When repeatedly asked by the media when a by-election would be held, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau only stated that it would consider it based on actual circumstances. Ultimately, the Legislative Council remained at 89 seats until the election for the new term.