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Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 23:00
HK govt seeks to require district councilors to take oath
By Gang Wen
Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 23:00 By Gang Wen

Witnessed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (first left), 12 under secretaries and 14 political assistants swear to uphold the Basic Law and swore allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China during an oath-taking ceremony at the Central Government Offices on Dec 16, 2020. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s administration will table an amendment with the Legislative Council next month under which the city’s district councilors would be considered public officers, and as such required to take an oath of allegiance to the HKSAR and swear to uphold the Basic Law, Lam said on Tuesday.

Lam said taking the oath is the legal prerequisite and required procedure for public officers specified in Article 104 of the Basic Law to assume office, and must comply with the legal requirements in respect of its form and content

Speaking at the weekly press briefing before meeting with the Executive Council, Lam said taking the oath is the legal prerequisite and required procedure for public officers specified in Article 104 of the Basic Law to assume office, and must comply with the legal requirements in respect of its form and content.

District councilors, local representatives of Hong Kong’s 18 geographical districts, are not currently required to take the oath.

READ MORE: HK sectors for civil servants taking oath to uphold Basic Law

The amendment, to be tabled after the Lunar New Year break, will also stipulate that anyone who breaches their oath will bear legal consequences in accordance with the law, Lam said.

The government’s plan to amend relevant laws related to official oath taking procedures was written in the Policy Address released in mid-November last year.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai told LegCo last week that other amendments will include arrangements relating to the retaking of the oath and will set out legal consequences for breaching an oath.

ALSO READ: CE: Election Committee, district councilors must take oath


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