Lawmakers Demand Civil Servants Take Oath Of Office

Legco's panel on public service passed a non-binding motion on Monday calling for civil servants be required to take an oath pledging to uphold the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The move came after pro-establishment lawmakers demanded action to be taken against civil servants who side with protesters amid the city's ongoing unrest or those who criticise the behaviour of the police.

Some members of the pro-Beijing camp told the Secretary for the Civil Service, Joshua Law, that many people had come up to them and expressed concerns about government workers holding demonstrations and sticking up slogans inside their offices.

The DAB's Elizabeth Quat and Holden Chow said some civil servants had taken part in unlawful assemblies, or even been arrested, during the months of social unrest, and they wanted to know what action would be taken.

Chow also asked how the government will deal with complaints that public school teachers had made hostile remarks about the police.

On the pan-democrats' side, lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting said he had been told of civil servants who had given an opinion on the contentious extradition bill, or the behaviour of police officers, being put under investigation.

But he said certain members of the disciplined services, including the Junior Police Officers' Association, had publicly called protesters "cockroaches", seemingly without any repercussions.

In response, Law said all government workers are required to abide by the Civil Service Code which sets out core values of impartiality and political neutrality.

"We also advise civil servants that in making public statements, or making known their views, they should ensure that their comments will not come into conflict with their official duties and that they will not give people the impression or cast doubt on their ability to discharge their duties in an impartial manner," Law said.

The secretary added that any complaints regarding the behaviour of civil servants is followed up by their respective departments.

The discussion concluded with the panel passing a non-binding motion – with a vote split along party lines – suggesting the Chief Executive issue an executive order that would require civil servants to take an oath pledging their allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and to uphold the Basic Law.