LONDON, (Reuters) – Two senior British judges including the President of the UK Supreme Court have resigned from Hong Kong’s top court after Britain declared that their presence wasn’t tenable.

Robert Reed, Britain’s most prominent judicial officer, stated Wednesday that he and Patrick Hodge would be leaving their positions as non-permanent judges at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.

Reed declared, “I have agreed with the government” that judges on the Supreme Court can no longer sit in Hong Kong, without appearing to endorse any administration which violates the principles of political freedom and freedom to express.

“Lord Hodge (and I) have consequently submitted our resignations in the capacity of non-permanent Judges at HKCFA immediately.”  

Britain, the country that ruled Hong Kong over 150 years before it gave it to China in 1997 has stated that the security law Beijing imposed upon the territory two years ago violated the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which opened the door for the transfer.

We have witnessed a systematic erosion in liberty and democracy Hong Kong. The authorities have crackeddown on free speech and the freedom of press since the National Security Law was passed,” Liz Truss (British Foreign Secretary) said.

“The current situation is so dire that it’s no longer possible for British judges in Hong Kong to be on the leading court. This would legitimize oppression.”