Does China regret allowing Snowden to stay in Hong Kong? - Bloomberg

[flamingdem]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-12/snowden-is-too-hot-for-china-to-handle.html

It goes without saying that China’s government welcomes the information that Edward Snowden has provided on the National Security Agency and its snooping infrastructure. But does China actually want Snowden to stay in Hong Kong indefinitely?

The answer isn’t yet clear, but as Hong Kong’s sizable community of human-rights activists begin to rally around Snowden’s cause, one can imagine the government in Beijing is regretting that the whistle-blower showed up at all.

Of the many mysteries surrounding Snowden is why he decided to flee to Chinese territory. One of his stated reasons -- that Hong Kong has “a spirited commitment to free speech” -- is undeniably true. Yet when it comes to the subject most dear to Snowden’s heart, an encroaching surveillance state, Hong Kong falls short of the U.S. This is in large part due to a 2006 digital surveillance law approved by a legislative committee dominated by pro-Beijing lawmakers.

Snowden’s view of Hong Kong often seems ill-informed about China’s encroaching influence on the city, as when he told Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post in an article published today, “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.” Even some Hong Kong rights activists seem bewildered by this viewpoint. Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor Director Law Yuk-kai told the South China Morning Post that, “Snowden’s positive view of Hong Kong no longer matches the reality.” This is the sort of thing a former NSA contractor should know in passing, if not in detail

[Cha]

1. And, will Mr Snowden "regret" staying in China?

Of the many mysteries surrounding Snowden is why he decided to flee to Chinese territory. One of his stated reasons -- that Hong Kong has “a spirited commitment to free speech” -- is undeniably true. Yet when it comes to the subject most dear to Snowden’s heart, an encroaching surveillance state, Hong Kong falls short of the U.S. This is in large part due to a 2006 digital surveillance law approved by a legislative committee dominated by pro-Beijing lawmakers.

thanks flamingdem