Lawmakers-elect of the eighth-term Legislative Council will sworn into office at a ceremony administered by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Jan 1, the government announced on Monday.

The proceedings are scheduled for 11 am at the Chamber of the Legislative Council Complex. The Chief Executive is legally designated to preside over the oath-taking ceremony.

In a statement, the government emphasized the legally binding nature of the oath. “The oath-taker must sincerely believe in and strictly abide by the relevant oath prescribed by law,” the statement said.

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Any individual who makes a false oath or later acts in breach of its terms will face legal accountability, it added.

Following the ceremony, the government will publish an official list of members whose oaths have been validated, formalizing their commencement of duty for the new term, it said.

As 40 out of the 90 lawmakers-elect are newcomers to the legislature, the LegCo Secretariat plans to organize a rehearsal on Dec 30, allowing new faces to familiarize themselves with the relevant agendas while also providing an opportunity for incumbent members to review LegCo procedures.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com