By Election Bypass: Hong Kong's Convenient Cop Out The news that a Legco by election is unlikely to be held for the seat vacated by William Wong Kam fai has sparked little surprise in a city accustomed to its fair share of politicking and posturing.
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu wa cited time constraints and cost effectiveness concerns as reasons for this decision, but her explanation rings hollow.
In practice, the government's refusal to hold an election is a convenient cop out that allows them to sidestep the messy business of holding a vote.