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>>My opinion of the HK SAR, which has always been quite high, just went up a couple of notches. How so? For the past 10 days we have been hearing non-stop repo

by npalli 13y ago

>>My opinion of the HK SAR, which has always been quite high, just went up a couple of notches. How so? For the past 10 days we have been hearing non-stop reports of the infamous extradition process that will drag on for 10-15 years in HK, providing asylum to Snowden. Turns out a mere day after espionage case was filed Snowden is allowed to leave HK. Do you seriously believe Snowden thought, wow it was great living in HK for 10 days but now I need to go to Venezuela or Cuba (via Russia) since they are havens of freedom and human rights? Snowden put HK in a very tough position this is literally the best way they could get the US off their backs. The strong language in the press release is all show, look at what people do not what they say.

mbenjaminsmith 13y ago
> For the past 10 days we have been hearing non-stop reports of the infamous extradition process that will drag on for 10-15 years in HK Have we? I didn't read those. I also didn't expect HK to grant asylum and I don't think there's any precedent for a US citizen seeking asylum in or being extradited (or not) from HK. HK's track record with asylum seekers isn't that great (around 10% are granted asylum) and the bulk of those cases involve people from the region. HK doesn't have its own laws in place regarding asylum seekers and instead defers to the UNHRC for those decisions. Did Snowden leave HK because they asked him to? I don't think there's any evidence of that. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) What they did do is refuse to arrest him at the request of the US and refuse to treat him like anything other than an American tourist. I'd say they did all that could be expected of them. > Snowden put HK in a very tough position this is literally the best way they could get the US off their backs. I think you might be overestimating how much HK & China care about what the US wants. The US isn't in a position to dictate policy to Beijing.
fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
>For the past 10 days we have been hearing non-stop reports of the infamous extradition process that will drag on for 10-15 years in HK, That was an optimistic assessment, best case. Either Snowden has received advice leading him to reconsider his course of action, and/or HK has expressed to him that they are not confident in their ability to, or haven't the will to resist the US/China in a diplomatic battle over his extradition, or maybe they just aren't confident that they can assure his safety. If one of the latter is the case then it is gracious of them to provide an opportunity for Snowden to leave unmolested.

by npalli 13y ago

mbenjaminsmith 13y ago

> For the past 10 days we have been hearing non-stop reports of the infamous extradition process that will drag on for 10-15 years in HK Have we? I didn't read those. I also didn't expect HK to grant asylum and I don't think there's any precedent for a US citizen seeking asylum in or being extradited (or not) from HK. HK's track record with asylum seekers isn't that great (around 10% are granted asylum) and the bulk of those cases involve people from the region. HK doesn't have its own laws in place regarding asylum seekers and instead defers to the UNHRC for those decisions. Did Snowden leave HK because they asked him to? I don't think there's any evidence of that. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) What they did do is refuse to arrest him at the request of the US and refuse to treat him like anything other than an American tourist. I'd say they did all that could be expected of them. > Snowden put HK in a very tough position this is literally the best way they could get the US off their backs. I think you might be overestimating how much HK & China care about what the US wants. The US isn't in a position to dictate policy to Beijing.

fnordfnordfnord 13y ago

>For the past 10 days we have been hearing non-stop reports of the infamous extradition process that will drag on for 10-15 years in HK, That was an optimistic assessment, best case. Either Snowden has received advice leading him to reconsider his course of action, and/or HK has expressed to him that they are not confident in their ability to, or haven't the will to resist the US/China in a diplomatic battle over his extradition, or maybe they just aren't confident that they can assure his safety. If one of the latter is the case then it is gracious of them to provide an opportunity for Snowden to leave unmolested.