Democrats quit district councils ahead of allegiance oath and possible disqualifications

A number of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy district councilors have stepped down from their duties after reports suggesting that they were to take an oath of allegiance this month, with those unseated by the government likely to face millions in repayment of their salaries.

Those who have tendered their resignation include chairman of the Tuen Mun District Council Josephine Chan Shu-ying, along with Sha Tin district councilors Yau Man-chun and Billy Chan Shiu-yeung.

Yau said the city’s political environment no longer enables him to speak freely while serving his constituents and the Hong Kong public.

Other district councilors having known to resign from their office also include Steve Cheung Kwan-kiu from Kwai Tsing District, Hau Man-kin from Yuen Long District, Joshua Li Chun-hei from Sham Shui Po District, and Dino Chan Yuk Ming and Chan Wai-tat from North District.

According to reports yesterday, district councilors who were involved in the  “35+” primary election of the pan-democrats last year are likely to be unseated.

Those who will be unseated include those who participated in the “35+” primary election of the pan-democrats last year, those who allowed their office to be used as polling stations for the primary, and those who signed a joint statement pledging they would use the LegCo’s power to veto budget bills to compel the chief executive to respond to the 2019 protest movement’s demands.

District councilors who signed a joint statement pushing to end the city’s special trading status with foreign countries, or those who displayed slogans such as “Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times” inside their offices will also be disqualified.

They will also face the government pursuing the repayment of their salaries and operating expenses with the repayments amounting to up to millions per district councilor, reports suggested.

However, it was said that if district councilors tendered their resignation before their disqualification, authorities will no longer go after their repayment.