Beijing 'will be very discreet' in dealing with HK over Snowden case

The central government will be "very discreet" in handling the possible surrender of US whistle-blower Edward Snowden to the United States, according to a top foreign policy adviser to the Chinese leadership.

Beijing would "privately tell the Hong Kong government its views", the adviser said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They will be very discreet."

Beijing would let the legal authorities deal with questions of Snowden's possible asylum and extradition, the source said. "This issue is not being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

He said the central government was aware of the hacking by the United States and would not seek to capitalise on the hacking revelations made by Snowden.

"China has no interest in turning this into a political case," he said. "These things happen every day and both sides know about it. There is nothing new to this case. Politicising it would make both sides lose."

In a veiled objection to possible extradition, a commentary in the Global Times yesterday said China should not let people think Snowden had chosen the wrong place by seeking refuge in Hong Kong, otherwise others with valuable information would not consider Hong Kong as a refuge in the future. "We should make sure the outcome of the Snowden (case) is not too bad," it said.

Still, analysts said, Snowden's revelations would complicate recently improved relations between China and the United States, with an early test likely at the China-US strategic and economic dialogue in Washington from July 8 to 12.