Two Chinese pop 'singers', Yin Youcan and Fang Ziyuan, have been handed fines of A$13,000 after allegedly lip-syncing at a concert. The practice was banned in the wake of the 2008 Beijing Olympics after it was revealed that the angelic little girl in the opening ceremony had actually mimed to the voice of a less telegenic youngster - thereby embarrassing the authorities (who also insist on "healthy" lyrics now too).

So the upshot is that it was okay for the authorities to try and pull one over on the world but now performers like Britney (and thousands of others) must pay the price for them getting caught out. Hypocritical politicians? Shocking...

As the law stands in China, professional performers' licences will be revoked if they're caught miming twice in a two-year period, and bookers must "choose performers with real singing ability."

Killjoys...