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Hong Kong’s rival political camps gear up for first polls since oath-taking saga

District council by-elections in two constituencies a prelude to Legco fight in March for seats left vacant by oath controversy

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Hong Kong’s rival political camps were gearing up to cross swords in district council by-elections. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s rival political camps were on Saturday gearing up to cross swords in district council by-elections – their first contest since six lawmakers were removed from their seats in the city’s legislature over improper oaths of office.

Sunday’s polls were triggered by the resignation earlier this year of two pro-establishment district councillors who left their positions to join Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s government.

The by-elections are a prelude to a showdown in March when opposition pan-democratic lawmakers will attempt to regain four of the Legislative Council seats lost during the oath-taking saga.

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Six lawmakers were disqualified by a court for spoiling their oaths last October amid legal proceedings launched against them by Hong Kong’s previous government, led by former chief executive Leung Chun-ying.

Did all of Hong Kong’s disqualified lawmakers flout the basics of oath-taking?

Both the district councils up for grabs on Sunday are in the downtown district of Central and Western – one in the upmarket residential area The Peak and the other in the constituency of Tung Wah.

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