TNAG-1454-FCO40-1976-Hong-Kong-oath-taken-by-members-of-Executive-and-Legislative-1986 — Page 2

"I,

swear that

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."

No alternative to the Oath of Fidelity is proposed since this contains no pledge of allegiance to the Sovereign.

6

is

No change is envisaged for the time being to that part of the Ordinance which provides that

that an affirmation permitted in lieu of the religious oath. However, Members may wish to note that proposals will be submitted later this year to abolish oath taking as a feature of

of legal and civic proceedings

to provide an alternative non-religious arrangement.

and

The Bill

7

The Bill annexed provides at

at Clause 5 for the new form of oath. The remainder of the Bill is consequent upon the introduction of the new oath:

(a)

(b)

Clause 2 adds the new oath to the list of oaths dealt with in the Ordinance;

Clause 3 provides that in addition to taking the Oath of Fidelity a Member

may take

either the Oath of Allegiance or the Executive Council Oath;

(c) Clause 4 relieves a Member of the Executive Council from having to repeat an Oath of Allegiance or an Executive Council Oath.

Legislative timetable

8

Subject to Members' approval of the introduction of the Bill into the Legislative Council, and Ministerial and Royal consent (see paragraph 10), the legislative timetable

will be:

Publication in the Gazette

First Reading, Second

Reading debate, committee stage and Third Reading

13 June 1986

25 June 1986