Hong Kong government has drafted a law requiring council members to take an oath of allegiance to the Chinese constitution and the region’s basic law.
Beijing … News Time
The Hong Kong government has drafted a law requiring council members to take an oath of allegiance to the Chinese constitution and the region’s basic law. Under the draft, candidates for the Legislative Council and District Assemblies will have to pledge to abide by the laws and not engage in activities that threaten national security. Violators will face criminal penalties, be disqualified from council membership, or have their candidacy rejected. In addition, they will not be allowed to apply for government positions for five years. The bill is expected to be presented to the Legislative Council in March and passed. The four-member council’s membership was terminated in November based on new standards set by the Chinese government. If the said amendment is approved, these standards will have a legal basis. A senior government official told reporters that once the draft law goes into effect, district assembly members elected in the 2019 elections will be asked to take the oath. The amendment was announced after a Chinese government official said Hong Kong should always be ruled by patriots. He also hinted at a need to review Hong Kong’s electoral system.
