At least 60 face district ax with disqualifications

Dozens of pro-democracy district councillors will be disqualified before their oath-taking next month, according to sources.

It is understood authorities will write to at least 60 councillors to say they are not eligible to take an oath pledging allegiance to the SAR and to uphold the Basic Law.

Other district councillors will be "invited" to take the oath next month under the supervision of Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai.

The sources said around 300 of the 388 pro-democracy district councillors were already considered unqualified to take the oath because of violations of the Public Offices (Candidacy and Taking Up Offices) Ordinance, which was passed by the Legislative Council in May.

That would include around 230 of all 479 district councillors who had already resigned citing personal reasons.

It was said earlier that all district councillors who allowed their office premises to be used as polling stations during the unofficial pro-democracy camp's primary elections would be unseated.

Those who signed a declaration supporting the anti-fugitive bill movement and promised to vote against the government's appropriation bill to pressure the chief executive in response to protesters' political demands would receive the same treatment.

Also being disqualified are those who have displayed banners of "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of the times" or who called for foreign sanctions.

Sources also said yesterday that the government has yet to reach a decision regarding the amount it will ask disqualified district councillors to repay in wages and paid expenses.

This came after claims that each disqualified councillor could be asked to repay more than HK$1 million in wages and paid expenses, though authorities will not pursue those who resigned earlier.

That has prompted dozens of district councillors to resign, with the Central and Western district council and Wong Tai Sin district council having only three left behind from an original 15 and 25 respectively.