CONFIDENTIAL
of providing an alternative oath,
which is in the nature of a Legislative Councillor,
a public affirmation of duty as
was to meet public concern in Hong Kong that with the
introduction of indirect elections to LegCo last September
prospective candidates might jib at taking the Oath of
Allegiance and thus be
from standing for
election to the Council.
D
4.
E
The new oath was introduced in Hong Kong under
local legislation on 15 May 1985.
5.
us that he is considering
The Governor has now told
recommending the appointment to ExCo of some Legislative
Councillors who have taken the new oath rather than the
Oath of Allegiance. Newly appointed Executive Councillors
are required to take an Oath of Allegiance and an Oath of
Fidelity (to be a "true and faithful Councillor" to the
Governor). The Governor has therefore proposed that, in
Legislative Councillors are not
deterred from accepting appointment to EXCO, a similar
alternative oath to the Oath of Allegiance should be
introduced for newly-appointed members of ExCo. proposed form of the oath would be:
order to ensure
"I,
that
swear that I will uphold the law
of Hong Kong, and that I will conscientiously and
truly serve the people of Hong Kong as a member
of the Executive Council. So help me God.
14
The
This is identical (bar the reference to ExCo rather than
LegCo) to that introduced for Legislative Councillors last
year.
Redacted under FOI exemptions 40 and 41
CONFIDENTIAL