Edward Snowden has put Hong Kong on the map!

Bob Choi & Others

13 June 2013

Bob Choi:

Snowden told The Guardian in an interview published Sunday that he had flown to Hong Kong on May 20, because they have a spirited commitment to free speech and the right of political dissent.

The Guardian also said he believed Hong Kong was “one of the few places in the world that both could and would resist the dictates of the US government. (Excerpt from Yahoo News) If this doesn't put little Hong Kong on the map, I don't know what will! And it clearly demonstrate the importance of defending this unique characteristic of Hong Kong: commitment to free speech and the right of political dissent in a part of the world where the governments in general are ruling with an iron fist. I don't know about you, but I feel proud when I think of that! This characteristic is an eye sore for the central government which is doing all she can to uproot it (promulgation of Article 23, denying universal suffrage, promoting "national education", etc.) For how long can Hong Kong retain its unique character is anyone's guess, but I will consider it a sad day when it comes to an end.

Dr. Hon:

I think Snowden has made a rash decision and a bit naive. He probably hasn't sought advice from extradition lawyers.

It is correct to say that HK has earned its reputation as a safe haven for Chinese political dissidents seeking refuge from the mainland authorities but really, not people hounded by other governments. HK has long-standing bilateral agreements with the US on extradition. Its government has generally been willing to extradite suspects when the US issues a warrant. Remember the extradition case in 2002 which involved two Pakistanis and an American who were accused of trying to exchange heroin and hashish for Stinger antiaircraft missiles? They were extradited after 3 months in a HK jail. Snowden might have valuable information for China's intelligence agencies in HK but I'm doubtful that China would risk displeasing the US by blocking the extradition. He isn't a big enough fish.

Peter Wu:

Whether he (Snowden) puts HK, Kowloon, or Mong Kok on the map is totally irrelevant.

What’s relevant to me is his blowing the whistle on US government’s illegal(?)and clandestine snooping of social exchanges and its intrusion of users’ privacy with complete disregard and disdain. I am no spy or intelligence-gathering expert but my previous exposure to this industry tells me that I can take nothing for granted. With this in mind, I have steadfastedly refused to join Facebook or other social media because I don’t want to bare my soul to virtually every Tom Dick and Harry, or put myself in a position with information which somebody can use against me. I believe my participation in this Yahoo Forum is bad enough in terms of baring my soul (or bottom sometimes with rude writings) so this is where I will draw the line. Admittedly I just joined Twitter last month because I want to follow Professor Paul Krugman (an economist who writes a regular column in the NY Times which imposes restricted access unless I pay). But I am disappointed that I am not able to circumvent the pay-to-view access to read his articles in the NY Times. I had also joined Linkedin last year purely because I feel obliged to a long-standing uni friend but that account remains dormant. I have not accessed it, nor have I contributed anything. I am sure we all have come across a thing called the End-User License Agreement every time when we first sign up to use a new software. How many of you take the time to read the terms and conditions of these agreements with a fine-tooth comb? Well, by clicking ‘agree’ which we all invariably do, I believe we have all agreed to a clause which says something like this:  "Yahoo collects, stores and uses your registration data and other information about you that are subject to the Yahoo Privacy Policy that you agreed to. Furthermore, Yahoo also requires you to accept all kinds of conditions imposed by them, while explicitly exempting them from any obligations whatsoever. I am quoting the Guardian verbatim. I am sure this must be the rationale for the US government to demand un-restricted access to data held by internet giants like Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and other internet-service and telecommunication providers. By blowing the whistle on US government’s tapping into social exchanges, Edward Snowden is doing us and the world a great service. Unfortunately, he now puts himself in mortal danger of being put behind bars for a long time. Like Daniel Ellsberg, Julian Assange, Bradley Manning and other whistle blowers before him, I feel for him.