Update | China angered as Martin Lee urges Canada’s MPs to back democracy in Hong Kong

Veteran democracy fighter Martin Lee Chu-ming appealed to the Canadian government to stand with those struggling for democracy in Hong Kong when he testified before lawmakers in Ottawa over the objections of Beijing.

"I hope the Canadian government and the Canadian Parliament will speak up for us at this difficult stage," Lee told the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

"If Hong Kong were to go down the slippery slope as now, Hong Kong will become just another Chinese city," said Lee, a former legislator and the founding chairman of the Democratic Party.

Lee had visited London and Washington in the last year to push for international pressure on Beijing to implement open elections in Hong Kong. Like those previous visits, his meeting sparked a protest from Beijing. Ambassador Luo Zhaohui wrote to committee chairman Dean Allison and other Canadian officials voicing "deep concern and strong opposition" to the committee's plan to hear from Lee.

"Hong Kong's political development falls entirely within China's domestic affairs. The Chinese side resolutely opposes any foreign governments, institutions and individuals to interfere in Hong Kong affairs," Luo wrote.

"In consideration of the sensitive and complicated situation in Hong Kong, we hope that the Canadian side will not hold such a hearing, not intervene in Hong Kong's internal affairs in any form, so as not to send wrong signals to the outside world and cause any disturbance to China-Canada relations."