HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kongs pro-democracy lawmakers said Wednesday that they were resigning en masse following a move by the semi-autonomous Chinese territorys government to disqualify four of their fellow pro-democracy legislators.

The 15 lawmakers announced the move in a news conference Wednesday, hours after the Hong Kong government said it was disqualifying the four legislators Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung.

The disqualifications came after Chinas National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, which held meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, passed a resolution stating that those who support Hong Kongs independence or refuse to acknowledge Chinas sovereignty over the city, or threaten national security or ask external forces to interfere in the citys affairs, should be disqualified.

Today we will resign from our positions, because our partners, our colleagues have been disqualified by the central governments ruthless move, Wu Chi-wai, convener of the pro-democracy camp, said at the news conference.

Although we are facing a lot of difficulties in the coming future for the fight of democracy, but we will never, ever give up, he said.

Wu said that the pro-democracy legislators would hand in their resignation letters on Thursday. During the news conference, pro-democracy lawmakers chanted Hong Kong add oil, together we stand while holding hands.