Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on February 4 that District Council (DC) members should be considered public officers who are required to swear to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the HKSAR.

"We will implement the oath-taking requirement on DC members and provide for related arrangements in this legislative amendment exercise," Lam said during the question and answer session in the Legislative Council (LegCo).

The drafting of the legislation has reached the final stage and will be submitted to the LegCo for deliberation after the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, Lam said.

The oath-taking requirement is written into the HKSAR Basic Law and in line with the national security law in the HKSAR and the constitutional order under "one country, two systems," Lam said, adding that it also represents the principle of "those who are patriotic and love Hong Kong governing Hong Kong."

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has also adopted the interpretation that clearly explains the oath-taking requirement, including the legal form, content and proper attitude, and that the oath taker should bear legal responsibility in accordance with the law if he or she is in breach of the oath.