Mr Edward Snowden left Hong Kong today (June 23) on his own accord for a third country through a lawful and normal channel.
The US Government earlier on made a request to the HKSAR Government for the issue of a provisional warrant of arrest against Mr Snowden. Since the documents provided by the US Government did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law, the HKSAR Government has requested the US Government to provide additional information so that the Department of Justice could consider whether the US Government's request can meet the relevant legal conditions. As the HKSAR Government has yet to have sufficient information to process the request for provisional warrant of arrest, there is no legal basis to restrict Mr Snowden from leaving Hong Kong.
The HKSAR Government has already informed the US Government of Mr Snowden's departure.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government has formally written to the US Government requesting clarification on earlier reports about the hacking of computer systems in Hong Kong by US government agencies. The HKSAR Government will continue to follow up on the matter so as to protect the legal rights of the people of Hong Kong.
In the words of this article from The Atlantic, "...it's difficult to interpret this statement as anything other than an artfully worded "screw you" to the United States."
Oh yeah, that's what it looks like to me too.
Awesome.
Now we just need more here to act like free people, too. Enough so that maybe we can even wrest America back from this self-styled "United States" thing which has occupied it for far too long now.
You know: hope 'n' change, baby.
2 comments:
Not that I think either China or Russia have much to add to the chances for a free world... but it did my heart good to see them both flip off Uncle Sam this week. The worm is indeed turning. How this all resolves is going to be VERY interesting, probably in the Chinese sense.
We do live in "interesting times."
Totally agreed there, ML. God only knows what ol' Pooty-Poot is up to here (a sentiment I recall explicitly from recent episodes with Julian Assange and Gerard Depardieu), but a little mud-in-your-eye to our own thugocracy is always appreciated, even if it comes from other thugs. (If the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend, damage to my enemy is still damage to my enemy. :-)
And while I wouldn't trust either China or Russia any farther than I could throw them, it's not like either is the most immediate and likely threat to my well-being...
(Didja get that, snoops? Here, have a stickfinger sandwich.)
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