More Senior Officials Pledge Allegiance

Another batch of senior government officials swore allegiance to the SAR and the Basic Law on Friday as the administration prepares to have all 180,000 civil servants to do the same.

After 26 under secretaries and political assistants took the oath on Wednesday, permanent secretaries, heads of departments and senior staff at the director’s grade six or above were the latest to follow suit.

Just like the oath-taking ceremony two days ago, Friday's event was witnessed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who stood at the centre of a hall lined with officials at the government headquarters.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung and Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip were also there.

As the national anthem was played, all the officials stood upright and sang the anthem, facing a backdrop featuring the national and SAR flags.

“I am a civil servant of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. I will uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, be dedicated to my duties and be responsible to the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” the officials said in unison as they held up their right hand.

Lam reminded the senior officials in her speech that they've assumed leadership positions in the government and played important roles in formulating and implementing policies, adding that she hoped they could set a good example for other civil servants by swearing allegiance to the SAR and the Basic Law.

She said the oath-taking requirement is a solemn promise that needs to be manifested in civil servants’ everyday work.

The ceremony was led by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Ingrid Yeung.

In October, the Civil Service Bureau issued a circular requiring all civil servants joining the government on or after July 1 this year to take an oath or sign a declaration as one of the employment conditions. Serving staff will soon be required to do so as well.