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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Hong Kong pro-independence lawmakers disqualified from office | Hong Kong pro-independence lawmakers disqualified from office |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hong Kong's high court has disqualified two pro-independence lawmakers from taking their seats in the Legislative Council. | Hong Kong's high court has disqualified two pro-independence lawmakers from taking their seats in the Legislative Council. |
| Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching refused to pledge allegiance to China when being sworn in last month. | Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching refused to pledge allegiance to China when being sworn in last month. |
| Beijing pre-empted the court ruling, saying last week that those who did not take the oath could not take office. | Beijing pre-empted the court ruling, saying last week that those who did not take the oath could not take office. |
| Thousands of people protested over the weekend, calling the decision a violation of judicial independence. | Thousands of people protested over the weekend, calling the decision a violation of judicial independence. |
| But there have also been protests against calls for further independence for Hong Kong. | But there have also been protests against calls for further independence for Hong Kong. |
| Mr Leung has pledged to appeal against the court's decision, saying it would affect Hong Kong for decades. | Mr Leung has pledged to appeal against the court's decision, saying it would affect Hong Kong for decades. |
| "I'll soon discuss possible legal actions with my lawyers," he told the South China Morning Post. | "I'll soon discuss possible legal actions with my lawyers," he told the South China Morning Post. |
| How did the controversy start? | How did the controversy start? |
| Mr Leung and Ms Yau, both members of the pro-democracy Youngspiration party, were elected in September. | Mr Leung and Ms Yau, both members of the pro-democracy Youngspiration party, were elected in September. |
| At their swearing-in ceremony in October the duo unfurled a pro-independence banner and used profanities while taking their oaths. | At their swearing-in ceremony in October the duo unfurled a pro-independence banner and used profanities while taking their oaths. |
| They also used what is considered to be a disrespectful pronunciation of the word China. Their oaths were later invalidated. | They also used what is considered to be a disrespectful pronunciation of the word China. Their oaths were later invalidated. |
| The law says those taking their oaths must "accurately, completely and solemnly" read out the portion that swears allegiance to China. | The law says those taking their oaths must "accurately, completely and solemnly" read out the portion that swears allegiance to China. |
| Mr Leung and Ms Yau were not alone. Hong Kong officials say they think a total of 15 new lawmakers made some variation in the oath, but it is unclear whether any others will be sanctioned. | Mr Leung and Ms Yau were not alone. Hong Kong officials say they think a total of 15 new lawmakers made some variation in the oath, but it is unclear whether any others will be sanctioned. |
| What was the pronunciation issue? | 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 wartime that is considered disrespectful in China. | During their oath, the duo pronounced China "Shee-na" - a variation on Shina, a term used by the Japanese during wartime that is considered disrespectful in China. |
| Was Beijing behind the disqualification? | Was Beijing behind the disqualification? |
| Hong Kong is semi-autonomous under the "one country, two systems" framework - in place since the territory was returned to China in 1997. | Hong Kong is semi-autonomous under the "one country, two systems" framework - in place since the territory was returned to China 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. | 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. |
| But Basic Law also allows Beijing the final say in how to interpret its laws. | But Basic Law also allows Beijing the final say in how to interpret its laws. |
| Beijing ruled last week that those who did not properly take the oath could not take office. | Beijing ruled last week that those who did not properly take the oath could not take office. |
| The Hong Kong judge who ruled against Mr Leung and Ms Yau, Judge Thomas Au, said he arrived at his conclusion independently of China's ruling. | The Hong Kong judge who ruled against Mr Leung and Ms Yau, Judge Thomas Au, said he arrived at his conclusion independently of China's ruling. |
| But critics say what Beijing has done is effectively change the law, rather than just clarify how it should be enacted. | But critics say what Beijing has done is effectively change the law, rather than just clarify how it should be enacted. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| The seats of Mr Leung and Ms Yau are now vacant, and the disqualification will trigger a by-election for their seats. | The seats of Mr Leung and Ms Yau are now vacant, and the disqualification will trigger a by-election for their seats. |
| It is not clear if they can stand again - Hong Kong ruled a decade ago that if you resign your seat you cannot stand again for six months, but the two did not exactly resign, the BBC's Helier Cheung in Hong Kong reports. | |
| In theory, there is nothing to stop other Youngspiration supporters from standing, provided they follow the requirements laid out by Beijing's ruling. | In theory, there is nothing to stop other Youngspiration supporters from standing, provided they follow the requirements laid out by Beijing's ruling. |
| There is concern among pro-democracy activists that other legislators could face attempts to disqualify them | There is concern among pro-democracy activists that other legislators could face attempts to disqualify them |
| More detail: What is Hong Kong's political controversy about? | More detail: What is Hong Kong's political controversy about? |
| Supporters on both sides are attempting to launch legal challenges - with one even arguing that the Chief Executive CY Leung's oath was invalid, since he missed out the words "Hong Kong" when he was being sworn in. | Supporters on both sides are attempting to launch legal challenges - with one even arguing that the Chief Executive CY Leung's oath was invalid, since he missed out the words "Hong Kong" when he was being sworn in. |
| Beijing has taken a firm stance. Li Fei, deputy secretary of China's top legislative panel, warned there would be "no obscurity and no leniency" in China's "firm and clear attitude towards containing and striking the Hong Kong independence forces". | Beijing has taken a firm stance. Li Fei, deputy secretary of China's top legislative panel, warned there would be "no obscurity and no leniency" in China's "firm and clear attitude towards containing and striking the Hong Kong independence forces". |
| Has Beijing done this before? | Has Beijing done this before? |
| This is the furthest reach of Beijing into Hong Kong politics since the handover, but it is the fifth time it has acted to interpret the Basic Law. | This is the furthest reach of Beijing into Hong Kong politics since the handover, but it is the fifth time it has acted to interpret the Basic Law. |