Hong Kong's high court has disqualifies two pro-independence lawmakers

Hong Kong's high court has disqualified two pro-independence lawmakers from taking their seats in parliament.

Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching altered their oaths to insult China, and promote Hong Kong's independence from China, when being sworn in last month.

Beijing pre-empted the court judgement, ruling last week that legislators who did not take their oath in a solemn way would be disqualified from office.

Critics called the intervention a violation of Hong Kong's rule of law.

Note

Hong Kong is semi-autonomous under the "one country, two systems" framework - in place since the territory was returned to China from the British in 1997.

Hong Kong's mini constitution, the Basic Law, states that it handles most of its affairs internally, while Beijing is responsible for defence and foreign affairs

Mr Leung and Ms Yau, both members of the pro-democracy Youngspiration party, were elected in September 2016

At their swearing-in ceremony in October the duo unfurled a pro-independence banner and used what is considered to be a disrespectful pronunciation of the word China.

Ms Yau also swore while taking her oath.

Both their oaths were invalidated - and the government sought to block them from retaking their oaths, saying they should be disqualified altogether.

What was the pronunciation issue?

During their oath, the duo pronounced China "Shee-na" - a variation on Shina, a term used by the Japanese during World War Two that is considered disrespectful in China.