Fishing boats in Hong Kong are draped with celebratory flags and banners marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and Hong Kong's 24th anniversary of return to China. Photo: IC

A hundred and twenty-nine Hong Kong civil servants refused to swear allegiance to the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), a majority of whom have left their post, which would help the government run more smoothly and create a more positive political environment for the upcoming elections, experts said.

According to the Hong Kong government, most of the 129 civil servants who ignored or refused to swear allegiance by the end of August, including 16 members of the disciplined services, have left their posts. 

They left by termination of employment, retirement orders, resignation or dismissal for disciplinary offenses. The others are expected to leave soon.

About 529 non-civil service full- and part-time government staff ignored or refused to take an oath, after the SAR enacted a bill in May requiring all lawmakers, district councilors, and government staff to pledge loyalty to the Basic Law and the HKSAR.

Most of these government staff have also left the government.

The departure of those civil servants and government staff is necessary, and the vacancies will be filled in accordance with Hong Kong's Civil Service Code, Tian Feilong, a member of the Beijing-based Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday, noting there might be new recruits, merging and streamlining of existing departments.

"Their departure will make the HKSAR government operate more smoothly," Tian said, as "they played a very negative role in government operations."

Their departure also sets up a benign political environment for the three upcoming elections and helps achieve the ultimate goal of "patriots governing Hong Kong," the expert said.