Public Utility Execs May Have To Take Oaths: Govt

Constitutional and Mainland Affairs minister Erick Tsang on Saturday said key post-holders in statutory bodies and public utilities may have to swear allegiance to the SAR.

He told a radio programme that authorities are reviewing the oath-taking policy to uphold the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the SAR, and detailed proposals will be made later.

But the official said there is no timetable on the matter.

"The most important thing is to comply with the principle that patriots rule Hong Kong. We hope all those who rule Hong Kong and those who hold important positions in public utilities will be included in the scope of the oath-taking [policy]," he said.

Currently, civil servants, District Council members, as well as government schoolteachers are among those who need to swear allegiance to the SAR.

Tsang also said the government does not plan to hold by-elections for the District Councils, but would focus on the Legco by-election in December and the village representative polls in January.

He added that officials are reviewing the local administration.

Asked if district councillors will be appointed in future, Tsang said he was open to suggestions, but noted they must comply with the Basic Law and the patriots-administering-Hong-Kong principle.

"We will look at how [District Councils] should be formed so they can serve their original functions, and this is how we will decide if they are to be generated through elections or other methods."