Anti-China MPs disqualified from HK House

A Hong Kong court yesterday ruled to disqualify two pro-independence lawmakers from parliament, a week after Beijing said it would not allow the pair to be sworn into office as fears grow of the city's liberties coming under threat.

Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching deliberately misread their oaths of office, inserted expletives and draped themselves with "Hong Kong is not China" flags during a swearing-in ceremony last month, prompting a judicial review into their future as legislators.

That move was slammed by pro-democracy activists and legal experts as a massive blow to Hong Kong's judicial independence.