- Title: CHINA: Hong Kong protesters show support for Snowden
- Date: 15th June 2013
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (JUNE 15, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING AT BACK DOOR TO U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL VARIOUS OF WOMAN HOLDING UP SIGN SAYING: "BETRAY SNOWDEN, BETRAY FREEDOM" AND CHANTING SLOGANS WOMAN CHANTING SLOGANS PAPER SHOWING PHOTO OF SNOWDEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN WAKEFIELD, AMERICAN WHO HAS LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR 3O YEARS AND WORKS AT HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, SAYING: "Any undemocratic government will spy on its own citizens, considering its own citizens to be the enemy. All governments, most governments do it, and China does it, the U.S. is doing it, so I think what he (Snowden) did was actually a very brave thing, he was willing to give up everything for that, and so the least I could do is come out here in the rain and show my support and hopefully put a little bit of pressure on Hong Kong government to give him a fair trial and not extradite him." PROTESTERS CHANTING SIGN SAYING "BETRAY SNOWDEN, BETRAY FREEDOM" UMBRELLA WITH WORDS "PROTECT SNOWDEN" IN CHINESE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS
- Embargoed: 30th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVABYE4L4HWRZLW10D8S3AXLA6T
- Story Text: Demonstrators marched to Hong Kong's U.S. consulate general and government headquarters in a protest staged by activists and lawmakers on Saturday (June 15) in support of former National Security Agency (NSA) Edward Snowden.
According to the event's official Facebook page, the march was in support of freedom of speech and democratic values after revelations by contractor Edward Snowden that the U.S. had hacked into Hong Kong's networks.
Snowden has taken refuge in Hong Kong in the hope that the city's legal system would help protect him from U.S. prosecution.
The rally took place in heavy rain as protesters marched to the U.S. consulate general shouting slogans in support of Snowden.
John Wakefield, an American who works at Hong Kong's Baptist University, said he hoped that today's protest would put pressure on the Hong Kong government regarding Snowden's legal status.
"Any undemocratic government will spy on its own citizens, considering its own citizens to be the enemy. All governments, most governments do it, and China does it, the U.S. is doing it, so I think what he (Snowden) did was actually a very brave thing, he was willing to give up everything for that, and so the least I could do is come out here in the rain and show my support and hopefully put a little bit of pressure on Hong Kong government to give him a fair trial and not extradite him," said Wakefield.
The protesters handed a letter calling for more transparency from the U.S. government to a representative of the U.S. consulate general before heading to the Hong Kong government headquarters.
Hong Kong Chief Executive C Y Leung issued a statement on Saturday in which he said: "When the relevant mechanism is activated, the Hong Kong SAR Government will handle the case of Mr Snowden in accordance with the laws and established procedures of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the Government will follow up on any incidents related to the privacy or other rights of the institutions or people in Hong Kong being violated." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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