MELBOURNE (REUTERS) - Two Australian lawmakers who were denied entry to China for a study tour because of their outspoken criticism of Beijing must "repent and redress their mistakes" if they want to visit the country, China's embassy in Canberra said.

Mr Andrew Hastie and Mr James Paterson were to visit China next month on a trip organised by the China Matters think tank, but said they had beenbarred because of their "frankness about the Chinese Communist Party".