#The boot comes down in Hong Kong

Beijing just put the boot down hard in Hong Kong, ordering the arrest of 50-plus elected pro-democracy officials and activists Wednesday morning. The Chinese Communist Party will no longer brook any dissent in the once-free city.

It’s the largest roundup of dissidents since Beijing imposed its new “national security” law in June. The charge was “subverting state power” by participating in an unofficial July primary vote to pick a unified dissident slate — a crime in the CCP’s eyes because it could lead to the unseating of lickspittle city Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong police said some 1,000 cops arrested 53 people, including six organizers of the primary and 47 participants; they also froze more than $200,000 in funds related to the effort.

Among the arrests: Carol Ng, chairman of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade, a fearless organizer for the democratic cause noted for standing up for those whose jobs have been threatened over their support for freedom, and at least seven members of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party — the city’s largest opposition group — including former party chairman Wu Chi-wai and former lawmakers Lam, Helena Wong and James To, as well as all the candidates in the unofficial primary.

Not even US citizens are exempt. The cops also dragged in John Clancey, an American lawyer and chairman of the Asian Human Rights Commission — who doesn’t even hold a Hong Kong passport.

This follows the New Year’s jailing of Jimmy Lai, the media tycoon and outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party, after a court revoked his $1.3 million bail. He’ll now likely sit behind bars until at least February — even though he isn’t a flight risk — before his April trial for “foreign collusion” under the new security law.

“While the Chinese Communist Party seeks to silence dissent and undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy, the US stands with the people of Hong Kong and their long-standing commitment to freedom,” Kelly Craft, US ambassador to the United Nations, tweeted.

Let’s hope President-elect Joe Biden is up to that challenge.