TYRANNY ADVANCES: China Cracks Down On Hong Kong Localists.

Beijing has ruled: the two independence activists at the center of a dispute in Hong Kong’s legislature will not be allowed to take their seats. . . .

As we noted last week, Beijing’s decision to intervene in an active Hong Kong court case set a major precedent. The ruling itself will have even greater repercussions. Beijing has now removed elected Hong Kong officials by decree. And rather than ruling narrowly against the two people in question, China has taken a broader position, barring independence activists from seeking office and pressuring the Hong Kong government to comply.

The ruling comes at a time when President Xi is consolidating his power on the mainland and clamping down on internal reform. The news will likely stir up passions in Hong Kong over the notion that Beijing is expanding its control and directly interfering with the rule of law in a supposedly autonomous region.

Hong Kong’s young localists have apparently overplayed their hand in calculating that they could openly defy China and still enjoy their new political privileges. The backlash in Hong Kong will be something to watch for: perhaps Beijing has overplayed its hand, too?

Let’s hope.