Another 16 Hong Kong opposition district councillors have oaths of allegiance challenged after ceremony
- More than 50 municipal-level politicians invited to swear to uphold Basic Law, with at least half from the opposition camp
- While 13 from the bloc saw their oaths validated, the 16 others had their allegiance to the city questioned, and two more are in limbo after missing the ceremony
Another 16 opposition district councillors have had their allegiance to Hong Kong called into question following the latest oath-taking ceremony for the municipal-level office holders.
A total of 52 councillors were invited to take the oaths of allegiance on Monday, including at least 31 from the opposition camp. Two councillors – jailed activist Herman Yiu Kwan-ho of Tai Po and Wong Hoi-ying of North district – did not attend, with Wong asking that her oath be rescheduled, a request currently being considered by the Home Affairs Bureau.
As for Yiu, the bureau said it was “not reasonably practicable to arrange oath-taking for him currently”, but did not rule out rescheduling it in the future.
Of the 50 who did join the ceremony, 34 had their oaths validated, including 13 from the opposition camp. Moderate democrat Francis Chau Yin-ming of Sai Kung district, localist and North District Council chairman Law Ting-tak and Tai Po District Council chairman Patrick Mo Ka-chun were among the opposition members whose oaths were accepted.
Chau was one of only two opposition candidates deemed sufficiently “patriotic” by a vetting body to run in last month’s Election Committee poll, although he did not win.
At least nine of the 16 opposition councillors who had their allegiance questioned on Monday – including Ricky Or Yiu-lam of Sai Kung district and Sha Tin council chairman Raymond Li Chi-wang – had either taken part in or lent their offices for an unofficial primary election last year for would-be Legislative Council candidates.