Hong Kong Legco president makes U-turn on oath-taking by localists
Andrew Leung says he will wait for outcome of judicial review as chief executive seeks court permission to declare localist pair’s seats vacant
The Legislative Council president reversed an earlier decision on Tuesday and deferred the swearing-in of two localists who insulted China in their initial oaths, prompting the pair to threaten to force their way into the chamber on Wednesday.
Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said for now he had to take the “painful but necessary” step to ban the Youngspiration duo from retaking their vows, even as the Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s lawyers toughened their legal action by asking the court to declare their seats “vacant”.
The move made late on Monday was an amendment to their original writ seeking a judicial review to challenge the right of the pair to take their oaths a second time.
Andrew Leung said administration of the oaths for Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching would be deferred until the Court of First Instance had ruled on the judicial review. The hearing is set for November 3.
The Legco president would not say whether he would continue to wait if the court ruling was appealed. But he admitted he viewed with “grave concern” the threat of a boycott “at all costs” by the pro-government camp.
