Hong Kong media: The Hong Kong government is drawing up a "negative list" involving district councilors' breach of oath or invalidation of oaths
[Global Times Hong Kong Special Correspondent Yang Weimin] According to Hong Kong’s “Sing Tao Daily” report on the 17th, the Hong Kong government will arrange for district councilors to take oaths in July and is currently drawing up a “negative list” involving district councilors’ breach or invalidation of oaths. Participated in the illegal "35+ primaries" of the pan-democrats last year, loaned members’ offices as a voting station, and signed the “no regrets, resolute struggle” statement, stating that once elected members will veto the budget and force the chief executive to respond to their demands, "The behavior of these district councilors is deemed to be a breach of oath or invalidation of the oath, and they will be disqualified after the oath."
It is estimated that about 170 district councilors will be disqualified, including 11 district council chairpersons and 7 district council vice chairpersons.
The Secretary for Home Affairs Xu Yingwei said on the 16th that due to the large number of district councillors taking oaths, time arrangements are needed and will be announced in due course.
He also said that the Legislative Council had discussed the requirements for oaths in detail before, and the authorities would take the oaths in accordance with the legal requirements.
In May of this year, the SAR government gazetted the "Public Service (Election and Appointment) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2021", in which district councillors were required to swear to uphold the Basic Law and allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR.
After that, many Pan-Democratic District Councillors announced their resignation, and many opposition parties broke out in a wave of "quitting the party."
The DAB Legislative Council Member Zhou Haoding believes that the oath arrangement should be dealt with as soon as possible, because the public official oath regulations have been passed, and the original oath should be passed as soon as possible.
He said that some district councillors had participated in illegal "primary elections" and provided venue support. It is hard to convince them that they sincerely support the Basic Law and are loyal to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Councillor Leung Chi-cheung said on the 17th that there is no urgency to conduct by-elections for district councils at present. In the future, the SAR government should carefully consider how to reform district council elections to ensure the full implementation of "patriots ruling Hong Kong."