Hong Kong Government Disqualifies 16 Opposition District Councilors Over "Doubts About Loyalty Oath Authenticity"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Hong Kong government has disqualified 16 pro-democracy district councilors who failed the loyalty oath. This brings the total number of district councilors disqualified through the loyalty oath to 35.

On the 8th, Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK reported that the Hong Kong government disqualified 16 district councilors on that day.

Earlier, on the 4th, they attended the loyalty oath ceremony along with 34 other district councilors. However, on the same day, Hong Kong authorities questioned the sincerity of the oaths of these 16 councilors after the ceremony and requested additional information.

In a statement on the day, the Hong Kong government announced that after reviewing their responses and all information, their loyalty oaths were invalid, and their councilor qualifications were immediately revoked.

All 16 are members of the pro-democracy camp.

However, since the loyalty oath process for district councilors is not yet complete, it is expected that the number of disqualified councilors will increase.

The loyalty oath consists of compliance with the Basic Law, Hong Kong's "mini constitution," allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, fulfilling responsibilities to the Hong Kong government, and dedication to duties.

In May, the Hong Kong government expanded the scope of the loyalty oath through related law amendments, extending it from senior executive officials and Legislative Council (Hong Kong Parliament) members to district councilors and civil servants.

Furthermore, anyone who violates the loyalty oath will be disqualified and barred from running for public office for the next five years.

Rumors circulated that those disqualified would have to return their previous salaries and activity allowances, leading about 260 pro-democracy district councilors to resign voluntarily even before taking the loyalty oath.

As a result, the pro-democracy camp's seats, which had won a landslide victory in the November 2019 district council elections by securing 392 out of 452 seats, have shrunk to below 90 seats as of today.

Meanwhile, amid ongoing emigration of Hong Kong residents following the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law), the Hong Kong Sing Tao Daily reported cases of judges emigrating as well.

The newspaper reported that Judge Xian Shaomin (60), who had repeatedly acquitted those prosecuted in connection with the 2019 anti-government protests, recently resigned and plans to emigrate to the United Kingdom with his family.

He retired early before the mandatory retirement age of 65, reportedly giving up a high salary and various welfare benefits to decide on moving to the UK.

Sing Tao Daily described him as "the first judge to decide to leave Hong Kong after the implementation of the Hong Kong Security Law."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.