Beijing's opponents exhaust their options in Hong Kong

Significance

It follows the framework unveiled in August 2014 by the National People's Congress in Beijing -- the event that sparked mass protests that brought parts of the city centre to a standstill for nearly three months. The draft legislation makes no concessions to the demands of the protest movement or opposition lawmakers.

Impacts

• The pan-democrats could try to regain the initiative by stalling unrelated legislation, but this could cost them public support.
• The resentments that fed the protests will fester, and activists will seek new targets and tactics of mobilisation.
• If the law passes, the democratic forces it unleashes may ultimately prove harder to contain than Beijing expects.