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Owen Fung

In a sign of a toughening stance, Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen has invalidated the oaths of two more lawmakers whose versions were originally accepted last week.
The decision brings the total number of lawmakers who must retake their oaths of office to five.
Hong Kong localist pair set to make U-turn over their Legislative Council oaths
They are Youngspiration duo Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching and architecture sector representative Edward Yiu Chung-yim – all three of whose oaths were rejected last week – and Lau Siu-lai and Wong Ting-kwong of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
Lai read her oath slowly last week, pausing six seconds between every word. Wong had omitted “Hong Kong” in his rendition.
Watch: three Hong Kong lawmakers have oaths rejected


Explaining his decision, Andrew Leung said Lau’s approach “objectively showed she’s not serious about taking the oath and had no intention of being bound by it”.
He said Wong’s omission was “inadvertent” and allowed him to retake the pledge.
The Legco president also warned that a legislator who does not recite the oath properly could be ruled as having refused to take it.
“I would not say [Wednesday is definitely their last chance] but I sincerely hope they will follow the legal requirements in taking the oath seriously,” he said.
Bar association boss links Hong Kong young people’s discontent to CY Leung ahead of Beijing talks
By law, Legco members are required to swear allegiance to the special administrative region of Hong Kong, and refusal to take the oath properly could lead to disqualification.
While Leung stated he would judge the legislators’ oaths “objectively”, he declined to lay out specifics for determining a valid one.
I cannot say concretely [what’s not permitted] because there are many different variations
Andrew Leung, on judging Legco oaths
“I cannot say concretely [what’s not permitted] because there are many different variations [in what they may do],” he said.
“I will judge by two objective criteria. First, whether they have followed the oath in accordance with the law. And second, whether they took the oath in a manner that can show the person administering the oath that they understand the seriousness of taking the pledge.”
The Legco president added that the two Youngspiration legislators would need put their request to retake their oaths on Wednesday in writing. “Only then can I plan this in the agenda,” he said.
However, he accepted Nathan Law Kwun-chung’s oath despite a call from the pro-establishment camp to reject it.
Lau said she disagreed with the president’s ruling that she was “not serious”.

“Everyone could see I was very serious,” the lecturer turned lawmaker said. “The president should give me guidelines how many seconds I should pause [in between the words of the oath] in order to be considered ‘serious’.”
She added she would discuss with her team how to approach the oath at Wednesday’s meeting.
Following Leung’s ruling, Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said her party still sought an apology from the two Youngspiration members.
Regna Ip Lau Suk-yee, head of the pro-establishment New People’s Party, said the president’s ruling was “clear and well-reasoned”. She added that while he lacked legal power to compel the lawmakers to apologise they had a “moral responsibility to do so”.
Senior Beijing official in Hong Kong expresses ‘condemnation’ over localist lawmakers’ oaths
Leung is scheduled to administer the oath to the five on Wednesday.
His announcement followed a statement earlier Tuesday by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying that the government could take follow up action against the Youngspiration pair for altering their oaths.
Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Leung said the government was highly concerned about the actions of Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching.
During the inaugural Legislative Council meeting last week, the localist newcomers referred to China as “Chee-na”, a variation of the derogatory “Shina” used by Japan for China during the second world war.
They also displayed a banner bearing the slogan “Hong Kong is not China” while being sworn in.
Their oaths were invalidated by Legco secretary general Kenneth Chen Wei-on.
Hong Kong’s ignorant rebel lawmakers don’t understand their duty to the people
“We will closely monitor developments today,” the chief executive said. “If necessary we will take follow-up action.”
The city’s top official, however, declined to elaborate on the follow-up plan.
We will closely monitor developments ... If necessary we will take follow-up action
CY Leung
On Monday, the Youngspiration pair indicated they might retake the oath properly in order to retain their seats in the legislature. But they remained defiant, stressing they would not apologise in the face of growing criticism and calls for their resignation.
Upon his return to Hong Kong from a trip to the Americas and the Netherlands, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah condemned the two localist legislators’ actions.
“Behaving improperly in the council chamber, or even saying things to insult one’s own nation, is very immature and ignorant,” he said. “These actions are disrespectful towards voters, Hong Kong society, the legislature and even themselves,” Tsang said.
“I hope they will take seriously [criticisms against them] and apologise for their inappropriate speech.”
The financial chief’s comments came as criticism against the Youngspiration pair mounted, with numerous adverts slamming them still appearing in various local newspapers.
‘Being young is not an excuse’: moderate former lawmaker criticises Hong Kong localists over oaths
One statement came from British Chinese groups and individuals.
Meanwhile, the chief executive responded to calls for the government to better supervise nursing homes after a former superintendent of a home for the mentally disabled could not be prosecuted for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman under his care because she was declared unfit to testify.
“We need to enhance supervision in different areas,” he said. “Relevant government departments are highly concerned about the quality of service at these homes.”


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Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung)

Legco president invalidates five lawmakers’ oaths, now including localist lecturer and pro-Beijing loyalist

Lawmakers-elect Edward Yiu Chung-yim (back row left), “Baggio” Leung (centre, gesturing) and Yau Wai-ching (right) last Wednesday at Legco. Photo: AFP

Chief executive Leung Chun-ying, attends a press conference before Exco meeting in Tamar. 18OCT16 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Bar association boss links Hong Kong young people’s discontent to CY Leung ahead of Beijing talks

Bar Association chairwoman Winnie Tam says the antics of localist lawmakers are creating a ‘dilemma’ for the government. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Tong speaking at a forum in Causeway Bay in July on the city's attempts to realise democracy. Photo: Dickson Lee

Legco president invalidates five lawmakers’ oaths, now including localist lecturer and pro-Beijing loyalist

City’s legislative head vows to judge newly administered oaths objectively