Ten councillors quit Civic Party ahead of oath taking

Ten district councillors on Sunday announced they had quit the Civic Party, ahead of the expected introduction of loyalty oaths for council members.

After the latest resignations, the party is left with just five councillors, down from the 32 elected in the 2019 polls.

Those leaving include Yau Tsim Mong’s Andy Yu, Sham Shui Po’s Andy Lao, Kwai Tsing’s Steve Cheung, Islands’ Lee Ka-ho and Kwun Tong’s Sara Wong.

Lao said quitting the party was a “painful and difficult” decision and described the future as “dangerous,” while Cheung said the road of a political party is “difficult.”

“I will stand tall and hold on tight. I also wish every one of us could eventually reach the shore of hope safe and sound,” Lee wrote on social media.

Their decisions come amid reports that the government plans to ask district councillors to pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR next month.

The reports say the government will consider anyone to be in breach of the declaration if they endorsed a statement ahead of last year’s postponed Legco election vowing to press for the “five demands” of the anti-extradition protest movement, including voting down the budget.

While none of the ten councillors signed the statement personally, the Civic Party and pro-democracy candidates for the election did sign it.

In response to the mass resignations, the party said it understands and respects their decisions, adding that it will reposition itself and continue to work with its allies in the districts.

The party has been losing councillors since the elections. For example, two of its councillors stood down after being charged under the national security law.