Boris does right

Britain’s Boris Johnson and Donald Trump are poster children for populist nationalism in the West, and stalwart critics of China. Johnson is giving his American cousin a lesson on how to answer the Communists’ repression with positivity and hope, not just threats and trade wars sprinkled with intermittent sycophancy.

Yesterday was the 31st anniversary of what Beijing calls the June 4 incident, when the People’s Liberation Army crushed students seeking democracy in Tiananmen Square. All across China, brave men and women remembered the courage of those who stood up and the iron fists of those who ordered and executed the crackdown (a crackdown Trump praised).

Especially poignant was the expression of solidarity in Hong Kong, where, breaking a promise to protect a free political and economic system, the Communist regime has been tightening and tightening the screws. Last week came stifling new security laws, to which the Trump administration rightly responded with strong action. This week came the criminalization of any who disrespect China’s national anthem.

Enter Johnson with a bold offer to upgrade the status of British National (Overseas) passports, currently held by 350,000 Hong Kong residents and for which 2.5 million can apply — essentially giving nearly 3 million Hong Kongers a path to British citizenship.

Freedom for millions and the potential influx of motivated people to Britain while draining talent from China’s grasp. A powerful statement proving even as Britain breaks from Europe, it will use immigration policy to assert its values.

We could learn a thing or three.