Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten says taking any oath of office is “serious business” and those who take it lightly are making a mockery of democracy.
“Taking an oath is a serious business. I’ve taken oaths on several occasions. I took an oath when I came to Hong Kong,” Patten said at a packed Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) lunch event titled, The World After Trump and Brexit.
In an interview with The Financial Times before the event, Patten criticized two disqualified Hong Kong lawmakers Sixtus ‘Baggio’ Leung and Yau Wai-ching.
Leung and Yau pledged allegiance to the “Hong Kong nation” during their attempts to take their oaths of office last month.
The Youngspiration pair, who represent a new breed of more radical activists moving into Hong Kong’s political mainstream, had their swearing-in oaths invalidated in October due to the language and a banner they used that was deemed derogatory to China.
Patten insisted that he was still a staunch proponent of democracy, but added: “Taking oaths isn’t something of a lark. The situation in Britain, which seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable one, is if you won’t take an oath you can’t join the club.
“We have a political party in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein, made up of Republicans who won’t swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen who can’t take their place in Parliament. Simple as that. And I would guess that there are legislatures all over the world, which have similar requirements.
Freedom of the media
“I think it’s mistaken to confuse the argument about the nature of Hong Kong’s really special citizenship. The way in which people know this community.
“The relationship between freedom of speech, freedom of the media, due process, independence of the judiciary. The way people know the relationship between those things and their own prosperity and well-being.
“I think it’s a mistake to confuse that with some headline grabbing remarks about independence.
“I had great admiration and I still have great admiration for those who campaign for democracy, but not those whose campaign dilutes support for democracy and makes a mockery of a serious political argument.”
Now that an old white guy spoke..all is fine in HK again.
The "Old White Guy" is a decent and moral man with a track record of standing up to China. He is also a realist.
His antics as last colonial governor of HK is well documented.
Even "old white guy" has enough of "elementary school chickens" (as they are known by the local people).
Chris Patten might have been another British imperialist but on this occasion, he is spot on. The 2 rookies made a fool of themselves; 99% of Hong Kong people believe in Hong Kong but they also believe they are part of China. To think otherwise is just plain dumb!!
Forget about this white guy, the kids just need to learn how the whole world of western and eastern media fail to tell the truth about Donald Trump, repeating the lines generated by hidden hand.
This decent old white guy tried to raid Hong Kong Treasury with the airport project with corrupt practices and is a hypocrite.
What’s going on here? This ‘old chap’ is a wily old fox who calculates every move that he makes. His statement made less than 2 weeks before the passing down of the decision of the High Court Chief Judge is perhaps an indication that ‘Mother England’ wants to get closer to China and is not looking in favour the antics of these two loose cannons. Hmmmm, one wonders
I’m not even sure Pattern is being "decent" or "spot on", he’s just distancing himself from idiots and losers.