President Chen Shui-bian (
Saying that Lee deserved the honor, Chen expressed the hope that Lee would continue to contribute to the film industry and set new records.
"He has not only injected vitality into the local film industry but has also made a name for himself in cinema internationally," Chen said in a statement released by the Presidential Office yesterday.
"He makes a perfect interpretation of our goal of building a state based on culture and human rights. We are very proud of him," it said.
In addition to expressing his personal appreciation, Chen instructed other government agencies to send laudatory messages to Lee.
Lu called Lee the "pride of Taiwan," saying that he deserved the recognition for his long-term dedication to film culture.
Lee's mother, Lee-Yang Shih-chuang (
Lee-Yang, who visited her youngest son Khan Lee (
Lee-Yang said that she and her late husband had not expected their sons to pursue any particular career.
Her oldest son's achievement was a result of the hard work he put into his career, she said.
"It is very important that he enjoys what he does," she said.
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