HONG KONG — The Chinese government plans to intervene in a legal dispute in Hong Kong over two politicians who have been prevented from taking seats in the local legislature, officials said on Friday, raising fears that the territory’s independent judiciary is under threat. A decision may come on Monday.

What is this case about?

Two politicians who advocate independence for Hong Kong — Yau Wai-ching, 25, and Sixtus Leung, 30 — were elected to the city’s Legislative Council in September.

On Oct. 12, as they were being sworn in, they deviated from the oath of office by saying “Chee-na” instead of China. Many consider the term a derogatory slur against Chinese people because it was used by the Japanese in World War II. Ms. Yau also added a crude epithet.

The clerk ruled their oaths invalid, preventing them from taking office, and the president of the Legislative Council scheduled another session for the pair to be sworn in.