Oaths of seven district councillors ‘questionable’

The government said it has asked seven district councillors who swore oaths of allegiance on Friday for information before deciding if they would be disqualified from office.

It said the Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui, the oath administrator, found the validity of the seven’s oaths questionable.

The seven councillors are Clarisse Yeung and Leung Pak-kin from the Wan Chai district council, Wei Siu-lik, So Yat-hang, Chan Wing-tai and Lai Tsz-yan from Eastern district, and Southern district’s Michael Pang.

Yeung and Pang have both been charged with violating the national security law by taking part in a primary election organised by the pro-democracy camp last year. Both were able to take their oaths in person as they had earlier been released on bail.

Leung said on social media that he received a letter from the authorities and has until 5pm on Monday to reply.

The other 17 Hong Kong island councillors who turned up at the oath-taking ceremony could keep their seats.

The only Hong Kong island councillor who didn’t show up, Peter Choi, meanwhile, has been disqualified with immediate effect.