Vote tote: Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Justice Barnabas Fung Wah (second left), Commission members Lawrence Lok (left) and Prof Andrew Chan (right), and Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam empty a ballot box for vote counting at the Wong Nai Chung Sports Centre counting station for the Legislative Council by-election.

Upon the smooth completion of the Legislative Council by-election - in which five lawmakers who had resigned to trigger the polls regained their seats - Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam said now is the time to refocus efforts on dealing with the 2012 constitutional development package.

Speaking to the media early this morning, Mr Lam said the LegCo by-election had been completed in an orderly manner. About 579,000 voters turned out to vote, a 17.1% voter turnout rate.

"This is the lowest-ever turnout rate for any Legislative Council election since the handover, including general elections and by-elections. Thus it is clear that there is only a rather low level of support among the community with regard to the resignation and by-election plan instigated by the Civic Party and the League of Social Democrats," he said.

"However, following the by-election today, the people of Hong Kong will have a full complement of 60 members of the Legislative Council to serve them in dealing with issues such as constitutional development and other Legislative Council issues.

"Whatever the outcome of yesterday's bBy-election, this will not affect the procedures under which the HKSAR Government will deal with the 2012 constitutional development package. We will continue to try our best endeavours to secure two-thirds majority to support the 2012 package before the Legislative Council's summer recess in mid-July.

"In the last few months, the Hong Kong community has been engrossed with the by-election exercise. It is now time for us to refocus our efforts on dealing with the 2012 constitutional development package. It is also necessary for Hong Kong to move on."

Mr Lam noted that opinion polls conducted by research organisations and universities, there are about 50% to 60% of members of the public who would like to see LegCo pass the 2012 constitutional development package to pave the way for implementation of universal suffrage in 2017 for the Chief Executive and in 2020 for LegCo.

In response to a reporter's query about the low turnout rate, Mr Lam said he didn't think it was the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government for the relatively low turnout rate.

"I would say that the people of Hong Kong are very astute, very mature in assessing political issues and in choosing political parties to represent them in the Legislative Council. It is a fact that only 579,000 people have turned out to vote and that about 2.8 million of our registered voters have chosen not to take part in this by-election exercise."

He re-iterated the Hong Kong Government had done its utmost in dealing with this by-election exercise according to the law.

$159m pricetag opposed

"You all understand that within the Legislative Council, there was opposition to the allocation of funds - $159 million - for this by-election exercise. There were those who queried as to whether the Hong Kong Government should act according to current legislation in organising this by-election. So, we have done our duty in organising this by-election and we are now encouraging everybody to move forward and deal with the 2012 constitutional development package."

To see the full results of the polls, click here.

Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Mr Justice Barnabas Fung said the by-election was concluded successfully in an open, honest and fair manner.

The Commission will review the electoral arrangements and look into areas for improvement. It will submit a report to the Chief Executive on matters relating to the by-election within the next three months.