The SAR emblem inside the Legco chamber has been temporarily replaced last week by a national emblem for the forthcoming oath-taking ceremony, while lawmakers have to face the national and SAR flags to sing the national anthem before taking their oath.

The first two lawmakers to take the oath, according to their seniority, will be Liberal Party’s Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, elected in the catering sector functional constituency, and Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung from the Business and Professionals Alliance of Hong Kong, elected in the commercial (first) sector.

In a rehearsal on Wednesday for the oath-taking ceremony, (Jeffrey) Lam forgot to raise his right hand while “taking his oath”, and jokingly asked if Legco secretary general Kenneth Chen Wei-on noticed it.

“That was a bad example set right there, and I would like to call on all lawmakers to follow the rules,” Lam said after the rehearsal.

Reelected Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen in the industrial (first) sector, who was the Legco president of the previous term, reminded lawmakers-elect to be on time and should not miss the opening of the ceremony when the national anthem is played, or else they will be “disqualifying themselves”.

He also reminded newly-elected lawmakers to correct themselves if they have made a mistake when reading their oaths to prevent people filing judicial reviews against their oath.

At the same time, Legco’s secretariat is also organizing a “crash course” for newly-elected lawmakers, as Leung said they are “very attentive in class, and raised a lot of good questions”.

But Leung sidestepped questions whether he will be seeking reelection as the Legco president for the coming term: “We can talk about that later on.”

This is after the secretariat notified all lawmakers-elect that they can nominate candidates to run for Legco president as the nomination period will span till January 4, while the new Legco president will be elected before noon on January 10.

A special forum will be held for candidates to illustrate their manifesto and respond to lawmakers’ questions, followed by an election. Leung is widely expected to be reelected as Legco president among the pro-establishment camp, as he has proved his ability to “keep the ship steady in a stormy sea” in the past five years.

“Unless there are special reasons, it is not really possible that there will be a change in presidency, or else Leung will seem like being demoted,” a pro-establishment lawmaker said.

Another veteran member from the pro-establishment camp also said an experienced lawmaker to “call the shots in the chamber” will be beneficial amid two thirds of lawmakers being newcomers.

“Newcomers will be fighting for exposure and chances to speak in the chamber, but the chamber is not a private company or a personal YouTube [channel], everything should follow the rules of procedures,” he said.

“Therefore an experienced man to preside over the situation will be beneficial for a smooth start for the legislature. As Leung has been reelected, lawmakers should already have a tacit agreement, even if it is an open competition, Leung still has an advantage,” he added.

Another member from the pro-establishment camp said Lee will continue chairing the House Committee, while Leung -- supported across different blocs and parties -- remains a strong favorite for the presidency.