Swearing that they would uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance to the SAR and serve the SAR in full accordance with the law, the newly elected Hong Kong LegCo members took the oath before Secretary General Ricky Fung of the LegCo Secretariat one by one.

The solemn ceremony got underway shortly after the new LegCo session started at 2:30 pm.

Liberal Party Chairman James Tien was the first to take the oath. He swore that "being a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, I will uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and serve the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conscientiously, dutifully, in full accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity."

Having sworn, Tien signed the oath.

Except for "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung who failed to sign the oath, the oath taking ceremony was repeated as members took turns to swear allegiance to the SAR. Their term of office is four years.

As soon as the oath takings were completed, members went on to elect the president of LegCo, a post with the authority to keep the chamber in order and to judge whether or not a member's motion proposal falls within the rules.

Independent legislator Rita Fan defeated the democrats' challenge and was re-elected president. She was returned to the helm by 34 votes while her challenger Albert Ho of the Democratic Party won 25 votes. One vote was invalid.

Speaking immediately after winning the re-election, Fan called on all legislators to come forward with concerted efforts to work for the best interests of the community.

"Ahead of us in the next four years are a number of sensitive, difficult and complicated issues such as the election of the chief executive in 2007 and the legislature in 2008. When we deal with those difficult issues and serve the community, it would be important for the LegCo members to use their wisdom and to come forward with concerted efforts so that the people of Hong Kong do feel the LegCo is capable of achieving for them," Fan said.

She said that as the president, she would act according to LegCo's rules and regulations without fear or favor.

Fan said that she looked forward to making Hong Kong people feel the legislature was an effective body and to strengthening their confidence in the legislature.

"But this is not something the president alone can achieve. It depends on all the efforts of all," she said.

Commenting on the behaviour of Leung in the chamber, Fan said she had attempted in vain to meet with Leung to discuss the dress code inside the chamber.

Hinting that she would expect Leung to put on a jacket over his T-shirt when meeting in the chamber, she said that Leung would have to seek the support of other legislators at the House Committee meeting on Friday should he want to change the dress code.

Yesterday, members elected Miriam Lau of the Liberal Party as chairman of the House Committee and Fred Li of the Democratic Party as deputy chairman of the committee.

Meanwhile, Emily Lau of the Frontier and Cham Kam-lam of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong were elected chairman and deputy chairman of the Finance Committee respectively.

(China Daily HK Edition October 7, 2004)