The government has released a statement denouncing the behaviour of lawmakers a day after the swearing-in ceremony.

The lawmakers-elect “behaved in violation of the dignity of expected of LegCo members, or even spoke or acted in an offensive manner that harmed the feelings of our compatriots,” it said.

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The government’s statement. Photo: GovHK screencap.

Legislative Council members must take an oath before assuming office at the beginning of the new legislative term.

Some lawmakers from the opposition camp made alterations or added words to the oath on Wednesday, including Baggio Leung Chung-hang, Yau Wai-ching, and Edward Yiu Chung-yim. The oaths of all three were rejected.

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Edward Yiu, one of the three whose oaths were rejected. Photo: Stanley Leung/HKFP.

See also: Video: Democratic lawmakers stage protests and alter oaths as new term kicks off at Hong Kong legislature

Some also changed their pacing while reading the oath. Lau Siu-lai read the oath in slow motion and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung read at an unusual pace so that the full names of Hong Kong and China became “China…People’s, Republic, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region.”

Chantal Yuen is a Hong Kong journalist interested in issues dealing with religion and immigration. She majored in German and minored in Middle Eastern studies at Princeton University.