The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government held an oath-taking ceremony for under secretaries and political assistants at the Central Government Offices today.

Witnessed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the 12 under secretaries and 14 political assistants swore to uphold the Basic Law and swore allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR.

According to the Basic Law, all public servants of the Hong Kong SAR Government must be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Under secretaries and political assistants are politically appointed officials and shall be bound by and collectively responsible for the decisions by the Government.

They are responsible for assisting secretaries of department and directors of bureau in undertaking the full range of political work and under secretaries will deputise for the relevant directors of bureau during the latter's temporary absence.

As key members of the Hong Kong SAR's governing team, it is incumbent upon under secretaries and political assistants to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR.

The Government said the taking of the oath to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR by the under secretaries and political assistants is of great significance.

They made a solemn promise on their responsibilities, genuinely showing to the community their loyalty and commitment to the Basic Law and the Hong Kong SAR and thereby boosting the public's confidence in the politically appointed officials, it added.

Further to the taking of the oath by politically appointed officials, the Civil Service Bureau issued a circular in October, requiring all civil servants joining the Hong Kong SAR Government on or after July 1 this year to take an oath or sign a declaration as one of the conditions for appointment.

The bureau will also promulgate shortly the details of arrangements for requiring serving civil servants to sign the declaration.

The oath-taking ceremony for permanent secretaries and heads of department will be held on December 18.