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

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said the oath-taking allows civil servants to demonstrate that they fully understand their need to be loyal to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

She made the remarks this morning before attending the Executive Council meeting, saying that taking an oath is a very solemn matter.

“It is necessary for all civil servants - in fact, public servants - to take the oath in order to demonstrate that under ‘one country, two systems’, they fully understand they need to swear allegiance to the Basic Law and be loyal to the Hong Kong SAR.

“Ultimately, the test lies in the behaviour. If somebody who has taken an oath to swear allegiance and pledge loyalty has subsequently done something which is in breach of the oath, then appropriate actions will have to be taken by the authorities.”