TNAG-1454-FCO40-1976-Hong-Kong-oath-taken-by-members-of-Executive-and-Legislative-1986 — Page 40

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