Edward Snowden spent the past fortnight in Hong Kong but left to avoid a lengthy legal battle over extradition to the US, according to a member of his legal team.
Albert Ho, a Hong Kong lawmaker, said the former US intelligence contractor, who is wanted by the US authorities for leaking sensitive documents had “done his homework” on possible places of refuge, but had underestimated the difficulties he would face in the former British colony.
“Obviously he didn’t really [think] carefully before he came out to Hong Kong . . . he didn’t realise the matter would be so complicated”, Mr Ho said. “He thought Hong Kong is a well-governed place and is a place where the rule of law is respected and he would be given legal protection. All that is right – but the situation is much more complicated than that.