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| Edward Snowden vows to fight anticipated US extradition request | Edward Snowden vows to fight anticipated US extradition request |
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| The NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden will fight an expected move by the US to have him extradited from Hong Kong, he said in an interview on Wednesday. | The NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden will fight an expected move by the US to have him extradited from Hong Kong, he said in an interview on Wednesday. |
| In his first comments since revealing his identify in the Guardian at the weekend, Snowden told the South China Morning Post that he was not in Hong Kong to "hide from justice" and said he would put his trust in the territory's legal system. | |
| As a debate raged in the US over whether he should be praised or prosecuted for his actions, Snowden told Post reporter Lana Lam: "I'm neither traitor nor hero. I'm an American." | As a debate raged in the US over whether he should be praised or prosecuted for his actions, Snowden told Post reporter Lana Lam: "I'm neither traitor nor hero. I'm an American." |
| In a preview of the interview posted on its website on Wednesday, the paper promised more explosive details about US surveillance targets. | In a preview of the interview posted on its website on Wednesday, the paper promised more explosive details about US surveillance targets. |
| Snowden, 29, was a computer technical assistant working with Booz Allen Hamilton, on contract to the National Security Agency (NSA). He left his job and home in Hawaii in May, set up camp in Hong Kong and provided the Guardian with top-secret documents that led to a series of revelations last week about the extent of US surveillance. | Snowden, 29, was a computer technical assistant working with Booz Allen Hamilton, on contract to the National Security Agency (NSA). He left his job and home in Hawaii in May, set up camp in Hong Kong and provided the Guardian with top-secret documents that led to a series of revelations last week about the extent of US surveillance. |
| For three weeks, Snowden was staying in a hotel in the Kowloon district. But after identifying himself as the whistleblower in a video posted by the Guardian on Sunday, he felt he needed to move to a more secure location, and checked out of his hotel on Monday. | For three weeks, Snowden was staying in a hotel in the Kowloon district. But after identifying himself as the whistleblower in a video posted by the Guardian on Sunday, he felt he needed to move to a more secure location, and checked out of his hotel on Monday. |
| On the face of it, Hong Kong appeared a strange choice for Snowden since it has an extradition treaty with the US and leans towards co-operating with US requests. | On the face of it, Hong Kong appeared a strange choice for Snowden since it has an extradition treaty with the US and leans towards co-operating with US requests. |
| But Snowden told the South China Morning Post that he had no intention of hiding from justice. He said: "People who think I made a mistake in picking Hong Kong as a location misunderstand my intentions. I am not here to hide from justice. I am here to reveal criminality." | But Snowden told the South China Morning Post that he had no intention of hiding from justice. He said: "People who think I made a mistake in picking Hong Kong as a location misunderstand my intentions. I am not here to hide from justice. I am here to reveal criminality." |
| Snowden said in his interview that he trusted the system. "My intention is to ask the courts and people of Hong Kong to decide my fate. I have been given no reason to doubt your system." | Snowden said in his interview that he trusted the system. "My intention is to ask the courts and people of Hong Kong to decide my fate. I have been given no reason to doubt your system." |
| Although China has had sovereignty over Hong Kong since 1997, it has a different judicial system from mainland China and a tradition of free speech. Beijing normally does not become involved in extradition hearings but could make an exception in this case because of its high-profile nature, choosing either to block it or to grant any US request. No extradition request by the US has yet been filed. | Although China has had sovereignty over Hong Kong since 1997, it has a different judicial system from mainland China and a tradition of free speech. Beijing normally does not become involved in extradition hearings but could make an exception in this case because of its high-profile nature, choosing either to block it or to grant any US request. No extradition request by the US has yet been filed. |
| Even some human rights groups have questioned why he chose Hong Kong, given its control by China. But Snowden said he had no regrets about his choice. "I have had many opportunities to flee HK, but I would rather stay and fight the United States government in the courts, because I have faith in Hong Kong's rule of law," he said. | Even some human rights groups have questioned why he chose Hong Kong, given its control by China. But Snowden said he had no regrets about his choice. "I have had many opportunities to flee HK, but I would rather stay and fight the United States government in the courts, because I have faith in Hong Kong's rule of law," he said. |
| Extradition proceedings in Hong Kong can be swift, taking only a matter of months. The Hong Kong government has so far made no comment about the case. Hong Kong's chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, on a visit to New York, repeatedly refused to comment on the case in a Bloomberg Television interview. | Extradition proceedings in Hong Kong can be swift, taking only a matter of months. The Hong Kong government has so far made no comment about the case. Hong Kong's chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, on a visit to New York, repeatedly refused to comment on the case in a Bloomberg Television interview. |
| Snowden may have opted to give the interview to the Post to help build up a case for his being allowed to remain in Hong Kong. Opinion there is divided between those expressing support and those who would like him to leave. Snowden is turning into a cause célèbre, with a demonstration in support of him planned for Saturday. | Snowden may have opted to give the interview to the Post to help build up a case for his being allowed to remain in Hong Kong. Opinion there is divided between those expressing support and those who would like him to leave. Snowden is turning into a cause célèbre, with a demonstration in support of him planned for Saturday. |
| It would be difficult for the Hong Kong police to arrest Snowden until such time the US makes an extradition request, as he has committed no crime there. In theory, he could attempt to leave Hong Kong by buying an airline ticket and presenting himself at the airport. But it is likely he would be prevented from boarding the plane. | It would be difficult for the Hong Kong police to arrest Snowden until such time the US makes an extradition request, as he has committed no crime there. In theory, he could attempt to leave Hong Kong by buying an airline ticket and presenting himself at the airport. But it is likely he would be prevented from boarding the plane. |
| Similarly, if he were to attempt to move to mainland China, it is likely he would be stopped at the border. In any case, Snowden told the South China Morning Post that he planned to stay in Hong Kong until he was asked to leave. | Similarly, if he were to attempt to move to mainland China, it is likely he would be stopped at the border. In any case, Snowden told the South China Morning Post that he planned to stay in Hong Kong until he was asked to leave. |
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