Civil servants may be asked to resign if they refuse to pledge allegiance to Hong Kong and its Basic Law, minister says
- Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip says embracing the Basic Law and pledging allegiance to the city are primary requirements for public officials
- Those who seriously breach the promise could also violate the national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing, minister says
Hong Kong civil servants may be asked to quit their jobs if they refuse to pledge allegiance to the city and its mini-constitution, a top official has said.
Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen on Saturday reiterated that embracing the Basic Law, swearing allegiance to Hong Kong and being responsible to the city’s government were primary requirements for public officials.
A civil servants’ union said Nip’s words made it clear that they would have to make the loyalty pledge if they wanted to keep their jobs. The union added many public officers were not willing to sign the declaration as they were afraid of the consequences of unintentionally breaking the oath.
Earlier, a source told the Post that all 180,000 civil servants in Hong Kong would have to pledge allegiance to the city and its mini-constitution from as early as January, with the whole process expected to be completed within a month.
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“If they refuse to publicly promise and confirm this basic responsibility, this will raise serious doubts on whether they are accepting it,” Nip told a radio show on Saturday.