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Kenney’s tweet prompted a forceful rebuke from Chinese officials who on Tuesday published a statement online specifically referring to the premier’s comments. It read: “No one stays out of the law. Ignoring the facts and openly advocating for the rioters can only undermine the rule of law, which is not in Canada’s own interests.” The term “rioters” has been Beijing’s official description of the Hong Kong protesters, although they have, according to most reports, behaved for the most part peacefully.

The statement also issued a demand for “local politicians to abide by the basic norms governing international relations… and immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.”

Asked by the Post on Wednesday, Kenney said he’s known Lee for about 25 years and that he’s proud to call him a friend.

“Look, Alberta doesn’t have a foreign policy, and I don’t freelance in foreign policy,” Kenney said. “But I’ll just say this: when a personal friend of mine is arrested as a political prisoner, I can’t in good conscience stay silent.”

He said, in spite of the consulate’s response, “I make no apologies for speaking out in the interests of a great champion of human rights and democracy who was a political prisoner.”