Nandu reporters learned from the Hong Kong SAR government that on September 24, the second oath-taking ceremony for district councillors was held at the North Point Community Hall, and 56 district councillors in Kowloon 5 were invited to take the oath. In March this year, Nandu and N Video launched a series of interviews on the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong", and Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said in an exclusive interview with Nandu reporters that the inclusion of district councilors in the oath is to ensure that their work is carried out within the framework of Hong Kong's Basic Law.
On the evening of September 24, the Hong Kong SAR Government issued a document stating that a total of 45 District Councillors had taken valid oaths that day, and the validity of the oaths taken by 10 District Councillors was in doubt, and the HKSAR Government required the relevant District Councillors to provide additional information to determine whether their oaths were valid. As for Lee Boon-ho, who was absent from the oath-taking ceremony, he was deemed to have refused or neglected to take the oath and must leave office immediately.
Nandu previously reported that on September 7, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said before attending the Executive Council that the Hong Kong government would issue an invitation letter on the same day to arrange for 211 incumbent district councillors to take the oath in four batches. On 10 September, the first Swearing-in ceremony for Hong Kong District Councillors was held at the North Point Community Hall, and 25 District Councillors from District 4 on Hong Kong Island were invited to take the oath. Among them, Hong Kong Island East District Councillor Choi Chi-keung refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony and has left office in accordance with relevant regulations. The oath taker also had doubts about the validity of the oath taken by the 7 people, and after asking them to reply in writing and submit relevant information, the 7 people were finally found to be invalid and disqualified from the parliament.
The SAR Government has previously stressed that the oath is legally binding and that the oath taker must be faithful and strictly abide by the statutory oath. The oath taker shall be legally liable in accordance with the law if he or she takes a false oath or engages in a violation of the oath after taking the oath. Section 21 of the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance (Cap 11) provides that if any person is duly invited to take an oath required by the relevant legislation, refuses or neglects to take such oath, the person must leave office if he or she has taken office.
Written by: Nandu trainee reporter Weng Anqi