Wall Street Journal:

Now the Hong Kong government has fired back. The China Daily—a Chinese government-owned English-language newspaper—quotes Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang accusing Mr. Pence of a “malicious intention” to interfere in Hong Kong justice. Translation: The former Vice President scored a direct hit.

Mr. Pence was speaking the obvious. But instead of recognizing his remarks as a way to start unfreezing Hong Kong’s increasingly icy relations with Uncle Sam, the Hong Kong government attacked the messenger. With Donald Trump now President, you would think Hong Kong officials would be looking for a way to get out from under the U.S. sanctions directed at Hong Kong officials—including its chief executive, John Lee.

Mr. Lee answered a press question about Trump sanctions by saying, “I hope that there will be a good starting point for good relations between Hong Kong and the U.S. to progress.” One possibility is a deal that would free Mr. Lai in exchange for Washington’s lifting sanctions on Hong Kong officials such as Mr. Lee.