Swearing that they would uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance
to the SAR and serve the SAR in full accordance with the law, the
newly elected Hong Kong LegCo members took the oath before
Secretary General Ricky Fung of the LegCo Secretariat one by
one.
The solemn ceremony got underway shortly after the new LegCo
session started at 2:30 pm.
Liberal Party Chairman James Tien was the first to take the
oath. He swore that "being a member of the Legislative Council of
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of
China, I will uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region and serve the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region conscientiously, dutifully, in full
accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity."
Having sworn, Tien signed the oath.
Except for "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung who failed to sign the
oath, the oath taking ceremony was repeated as members took turns
to swear allegiance to the SAR. Their term of office is four
years.
As soon as the oath takings were completed, members went on to
elect the president of LegCo, a post with the authority to keep the
chamber in order and to judge whether or not a member's motion
proposal falls within the rules.
Independent legislator Rita Fan defeated the democrats'
challenge and was re-elected president. She was returned to the
helm by 34 votes while her challenger Albert Ho of the Democratic
Party won 25 votes. One vote was invalid.
Speaking immediately after winning the re-election, Fan called
on all legislators to come forward with concerted efforts to work
for the best interests of the community.
"Ahead of us in the next four years are a number of sensitive,
difficult and complicated issues such as the election of the chief
executive in 2007 and the legislature in 2008. When we deal with
those difficult issues and serve the community, it would be
important for the LegCo members to use their wisdom and to come
forward with concerted efforts so that the people of Hong Kong do
feel the LegCo is capable of achieving for them," Fan said.
She said that as the president, she would act according to
LegCo's rules and regulations without fear or favor.
Fan said that she looked forward to making Hong Kong people feel
the legislature was an effective body and to strengthening their
confidence in the legislature.
"But this is not something the president alone can achieve. It
depends on all the efforts of all," she said.
Commenting on the behaviour of Leung in the chamber, Fan said
she had attempted in vain to meet with Leung to discuss the dress
code inside the chamber.
Hinting that she would expect Leung to put on a jacket over his
T-shirt when meeting in the chamber, she said that Leung would have
to seek the support of other legislators at the House Committee
meeting on Friday should he want to change the dress code.
Yesterday, members elected Miriam Lau of the Liberal Party as
chairman of the House Committee and Fred Li of the Democratic Party
as deputy chairman of the committee.
Meanwhile, Emily Lau of the Frontier and Cham Kam-lam of the
Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong were elected
chairman and deputy chairman of the Finance Committee
respectively.
(China Daily HK Edition October 7, 2004)