5. Deputy Prime Minister—Meetings with Hong Kong Pro-democracy FiguresRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime Minister—Meetings with Hong Kong Pro-democracy Figures5. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Deputy Prime Minister: What justification or excuse does he have to cancel a meeting scheduled with two prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy figures this week?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister: Ministers from time to time after considering advice will decide not to progress previously scheduled meetings.Rt Hon Winston Peters: On the question of justification or excuse if two prominent pro-democracy figures Anson Chan and Martin Lee were of considerable importance to US Vice-President Joe Biden and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to meet with and discuss support for democracy in Hong Kong why were National Ministers not prepared to meet with them?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I have no responsibility for the diaries of other Foreign Ministers.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well that's a slack answer.Mr SPEAKER: Order! And the member is perfectly entitled to that opinion but he does not need to share it with the House.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Given that New Zealand was the first foreign country to sign a bilateral free-trade agreement with Hong Kong in March 2010 which was he said a priority for his Government would he agree that his cancellation and the refusal of National Ministers to meet with them is an insult to our close economic relationship with Hong Kong?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: No.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it not a fact that he has bowed down to Beijing officials and cancelled his meeting with prominent pro-democracy figures from Hong Kong because wealthy Chinese business interests are lining the National Party coffers? [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is a very marginal question. I will leave it for Mr Brownlee to handle.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: No there was no communication between the Deputy Prime Minister's office or any Chinese official prior to the cancellation of the meeting.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it not a fact that he and his party have allowed the Chinese to flood into New Zealand with record migration buy huge amounts of land and homes from offshore buy a majority share in the biggest meat industry company in this country—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is a responsibility for the question to be answered but it needs to be heard first so I will require considerably less interjection from my colleagues to the right.Rt Hon Winston Peters: —I will continue on—buy a majority share in our largest meat exporting company and control in 3 years the infant formula business in this country? Is this not just another case of an insult where they kowtow to Beijing—Hon Steven Joyce: The end of the world!Rt Hon Winston Peters: —where the principal culprit is of course the know-nothing Steven Joyce?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: New Zealand does not kowtow to any other country at all.David Shearer: Given that the delegation asked for meetings with other National Government MPs was any instruction given to National Government MPs not to meet with the Hong Kong delegation? [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is absolutely no ministerial responsibility for that.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Rather than leaving that out-of-order question hanging I would appreciate the opportunity on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister to simply say No."Mr SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. [Interruption] Order! I have ruled the question out of order because there is no ministerial responsibility and that is the end of the matter."