HONG KONG (AFP) - A Chinese national arrested in Hong Kong and accused of murdering his two teenage nephews in the United States was taken to hospital on Monday (Feb 1) after complaining he was "muddle-headed".

Shi Deyun was detained by the police at Hong Kong airport last month after arriving on a flight from Los Angeles.

The 44-year-old has been in custody pending a US extradition request but complained of feeling unwell when he appeared in court on Monday for a bail hearing.

"I am muddle headed now... I know that my condition is poor," he told the city's Eastern Magistrates' Court.

He also said he felt threatened.

"I feel a lot of people (are) surrounding me trying to kill me," said Shi, looking dazed in a grey suit.

The court's duty magistrate refused to grant bail and ordered Shi to be sent to hospital for a check-up.

Shi is accused of murdering his nephews, aged 15 and 16, after his wife filed for divorce, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The bodies of the boys were discovered by their mother at their home in the city.

Both teens had suffered blunt-force trauma, the paper reported.

Media reports said Shi was heading to mainland China, which unlike Hong Kong does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.

But Shi denied he was fleeing, saying that he was heading to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen via Hong Kong to deal with business.

According to the Hong Kong police, once his extradition has been approved, US marshals will collect Shi from Hong Kong within 30 days.