Mr. Speaker, economics is one thing and human rights is another.
Mr. Lee is the leader of the democratic party, one of the most important in Hong Kong. He is internationally known as a staunch defender and advocate of democratic rights and is a past winner of the democracy award of the U.S. national endowment for democracy.
How could the Prime Minister overlook such an important democratic ally? What message does this snub send to friends of democracy and human rights in China?