HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s 180,000 civil servants were told on Friday they had four weeks to sign a document, and to pledge their loyalty to the Chinese-ruled city’s mini-constitution and express their dedication to the government.
More than 4,000 civil servants have already made the declaration since Beijing implemented a sweeping national security law in June.
Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have been asserting that the law is essential to bring stability to the semi-autonomous former British colony following a year of anti-government demonstrations.
Civil servants taking the pledge will act as a promise to uphold Hong Kong’s Basic Law and “bear allegiance” to the city and its government. They would also be taking a vow to stay well as to be dedicated in their duties.
The Civil Service Bureau said in a statement that all civil servants should in “no uncertain terms acknowledge and accept these basic duties”.
Those who do not agree to sign the pledge could lose their jobs.
The statement said, “Negligence or refusal to take the oath or to duly sign and return the declaration by a civil servant casts serious doubts on his or her willingness to take up these basic duties and his or her suitability to remain in the civil service.”
In a circular to civil servants, officials said it was not possible to list “exhaustively” all types of improper conduct as they could be categorised into many different forms.
However, it said promoting “Hong Kong independence”, refusing to recognise China’s sovereignty over the city, inviting intervention by foreign or external forces to look into the city’s affairs, or carrying out activities that could possibly be a breach of national security were not allowed.
Any act that “aims to undermine the government in the governance and administration of Hong Kong” would also be viewed as violation of the declaration, according to the circular.
The government said expression of one’s views in public to oppose a certain policy or decision of the government would not be looked upon as improper conduct.