Treaty gives Hong Kong option to reject Snowden extradition to the US

Hong Kong could refuse to extradite US whistleblower Edward Snowden if Beijng wanted to keep him, according to a treaty signed between the United States and Hong Kong almost two decades ago. 

Hong Kong has the "right of refusal when surrender implicates the 'defense, foreign affairs or essential public interest or policy'" of the People's Republic of China, according to the US-Hong Kong Extradition Treaty signed in 1997. 

Snowden chose to seek refuge in Hong Kong because of the city's "strong tradition of free speech", he said in an interview with the Guardian published earlier today. He also said that he was concerned about being handed to mainland Chinese or US authorities. 

The US justice deparment has initiated an investigation into his leaking of a secret US data gathering programme, that has collected records of trillions of online messages and phone calls over several years. US members of congress have already called for his extradition to the US to stand trial.

China does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.