作为宪法性义务的政治效忠——以香港立法会议员宣誓事件为视角

Political Allegiance as a Constitutional Obligation——Starting from the HK LegC o Oath-Taking Dispute

香港立法会议员宣誓争议的本质是议员的政治效忠问题。政治效忠表达的是个人或组织对国家的忠诚义务,其经历由道德义务向法律义务(首先是宪法义务)的转变。现代法治框架下,政治效忠集中表现为个人或组织等主体对国家宪法体制的尊重和维护,其主体包括个人、国家公职人员、政党、社会组织和地方政府,但不同主体效忠义务的具体内容及其违反的后果均存在差异性。《宪法》上的政治效忠义务应通过普通法律予以具体化并应由相应的法律机制予以保障。香港议员对国家和香港特别行政区承担政治效忠义务,宣誓是政治效忠的表现,不能以言论自由为由否认法定的宣誓要求。

The HK Leg Co oath-taking controversy by nature concerns Legco members’political allegiance.Political Allegiance highlights the duties of individuals or institutions to the state,and it has evolved from a moral obligation to a legal one,with the constitutional duty sitting at its heart.In modern days,political allegiance focuses on individuals’and institutions’respect and support for the constitutional system,which involves various subjects,including individuals,civil servants,parties,social organizations,and local governments.Nevertheless,the consequences of violation of the political allegiance and its contents differ from subject to subject.In a constitutional sense,political allegiance should be nailed down through concrete legislation and be entrenched by the pertinent legal institutions.Members of the HK Legco are under an obligation to pay political allegiance to the state and the HK Special Administration.The duty requires the Legco members to take the oath in a proper way,and this should not be waived and denied by the freedom of speech.