Govt: 7 District Councillors disqualified for invalid oaths

Seven out of the 24 oaths taken for four district councils on September 10 are confirmed to be invalid, the Home Affairs Bureau announced Wednesday (Sept. 15), meaning that the seven councilors are to be disqualified.

At the oath-taking ceremony held in accordance with the requirements of the law, the district council members present took oaths individually that they would uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The oath-taking was administered by Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui, who was authorized by the Chief Executive as oath administrator. The oath-taking is legally binding.

While the oaths taken by 17 of the 24 people were determined to be valid, the oath administrator had questions about the validity of the oaths of the remaining seven.

After considering the written replies from the people concerned and all relevant information, the oath administrator determined that the oaths taken by the seven people were invalid.

His decision is based on the principles laid down by the interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the relevant legal provisions, the bureau added.