HONG KONG The Hong Kong government says a former National Security Agency contractor wanted by the U.S. for revealing two highly classified surveillance programs has left for a "third country."
The South China Morning Post reported Sunday that Edward Snowden was on a plane for Moscow, but that Russia was not his final destination. Snowden has talked of seeking asylum in Iceland.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Reuters on Sunday that he was unaware of the location or plans of Snowden.
Hong Kong said in a statement that it allowed Snowden to leave despite an extradition request from the U.S. because documents provided by the U.S. government did not "fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law."
It said there was no legal basis to stop Snowden from leaving.
The Hong Kong government issued this statment:
"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."
On Saturday, White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon told CBS News that the U.S. government has asked Hong Kong authorities to extradite Edward Snowden, the man behind the recent leaks of classified government surveillance programs, back to the United States.
Play Video
[h=3]How much damage did NSA surveillance leaks do?[/h]
On June 14, the government filed a criminal complaint charging Snowden with espionage and theft of government property. The complaint was unsealed Friday at a federal court in Virginia.
Play Video
[h=3]Spy charges for Edward Snowden[/h]
Play Video
[h=3]Edward Snowden charged with espionage[/h]
By leaving, Snowden avoids a protracted legal battle with the government to prevent his extradition. Another option would have been to apply for asylum in Hong Kong, where he has been in hiding since admitting to leaking about the surveillance programs at the beginning of June.
Members of Congress in both parties have accused Snowden of treason and demanded he be held to account for his role in leaking classified programs, which have stirred a contentious debate about whether the U.S. government has too much surveillance authority.
In reaction to the government's decision to charge Snowden, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said in a statement, "I've always thought this was a treasonous act. Apparently so does the U.S. Department of Justice."
A one-page criminal complaint unsealed Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Va., said Snowden engaged in unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence information. Both are charges under the Espionage Act. Snowden also is charged with theft of government property. All three crimes carry a maximum 10-year prison penalty.
The South China Morning Post reported Sunday that Edward Snowden was on a plane for Moscow, but that Russia was not his final destination. Snowden has talked of seeking asylum in Iceland.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Reuters on Sunday that he was unaware of the location or plans of Snowden.
Hong Kong said in a statement that it allowed Snowden to leave despite an extradition request from the U.S. because documents provided by the U.S. government did not "fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law."
It said there was no legal basis to stop Snowden from leaving.
The Hong Kong government issued this statment:
"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."
On Saturday, White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon told CBS News that the U.S. government has asked Hong Kong authorities to extradite Edward Snowden, the man behind the recent leaks of classified government surveillance programs, back to the United States.
[h=3]How much damage did NSA surveillance leaks do?[/h]
On June 14, the government filed a criminal complaint charging Snowden with espionage and theft of government property. The complaint was unsealed Friday at a federal court in Virginia.
[h=3]Spy charges for Edward Snowden[/h]
[h=3]Edward Snowden charged with espionage[/h]
By leaving, Snowden avoids a protracted legal battle with the government to prevent his extradition. Another option would have been to apply for asylum in Hong Kong, where he has been in hiding since admitting to leaking about the surveillance programs at the beginning of June.
Members of Congress in both parties have accused Snowden of treason and demanded he be held to account for his role in leaking classified programs, which have stirred a contentious debate about whether the U.S. government has too much surveillance authority.
In reaction to the government's decision to charge Snowden, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said in a statement, "I've always thought this was a treasonous act. Apparently so does the U.S. Department of Justice."
A one-page criminal complaint unsealed Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Va., said Snowden engaged in unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence information. Both are charges under the Espionage Act. Snowden also is charged with theft of government property. All three crimes carry a maximum 10-year prison penalty.