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HALIFAX — Hong Kong pro-democracy activists are urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to find some “guts” and make like his American counterparts to hold China to account for ugly protests in the semi-autonomous region.

Emily Lau, chair of the Hong Kong Democratic Party’s foreign affairs committee, was a key speaker at the weekend’s Halifax Security Forum, where she expressed cynicism over Canada’s timidness in criticizing China.

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“Is it because if you do it, you will make less money? You will make enemies? So your country, your companies, will get less rich,” she told the audience, a cross-section of defence, security, and diplomatic officials, and academics. Nova Scotia, in particular, has seen its lobster fishery boom on the back of huge demand from the Chinese middle class.

“They know your game very well,” she said.

Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, who attended the conference, insisted that China was not an adversary, and that Canada was still keen to move forward on new trade deals — but only if China follows the rules.