Carrie Lam File photo:Xinhua

Incumbent District Councilors in Hong Kong will be sworn in in four batches, and the first oath-taking ceremony will be held on Hong Kong Island on Friday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday.

All District Councilors on Hong Kong Island will receive invitations on Tuesday, and they are required to reply if they will attend or not, Lam said, noting that refusal to attend will result in disqualification as District Councilors.

Of the 479 members of the current District Councils, 260 have resigned, eight were disqualified for reasons such as detention or departure from Hong Kong, and 211 councilors are expected to join the oath-taking ceremonies, Lam said. 

Lam said that District Councilors should read the oath one by one in front of the national flag and district flag during the oath-taking ceremony.

The invitation letter mentioned requirements such as dress code, so that District Councilors will clearly know how to be solemn and serious.

Lam said the validity of the oaths would not be announced immediately. If there would be any oaths that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government doubted, the District Councilors involved would have the opportunity to make representations and the oath-commissioner would judge, with legal advice possibly involved. 

The Public Offices (Candidacy and Taking Up Offices; Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2021 introduced an oath requirement for District Councilors, which came into force on May 21.

Lam said in a press briefing in July laws cannot exist in name only and the oath-taking of incumbent District Councilors must be carried out.

Global Times