(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said arrangements have been put in place for serving district council members to take an oath to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, adding that the councillors will take the oath in batches starting this week.

Ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mrs Lam told reporters that members of the Hong Kong Island district councils have been invited to attend the first oath-taking ceremony at North Point Community Hall on September 10.

There are 211 serving district councillors following the resignation of some councillors and others losing their seats for reasons including arrest or leaving Hong Kong.

Mrs Lam noted that once the oath-taking procedure is finished, the Government will know ultimately how many district council members are left in the current term of the district councils which will last until the end of 2023. 

“Basically our primary objectives, (first) is to ensure that the district councils fulfil their role as an advisory body as provided (for) under (the) Basic Law Article 97 and in local legislation.

“(Second) is to ensure that through our network of district offices and various departments, we will continue to look after the district interests and provide the necessary services at the district level.

“All these normal government operations will not be undermined by the absence of some of the district council members who could not fulfil the legal requirements which they will have to demonstrate through the oath-taking process which will start later this week.”

The Chief Executive said she has appointed Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui as oath administrator and he will send invitation letters to serving district councillors to take part in the oath-taking. 

Those who refuse to attend the ceremonies will lose their seats, Mrs Lam added.