Stark realities for asylum seekers in Hong Kong are alien to Edward Snowden
Cosmo Beatson and Francesco Vecchio say the reality of how asylum seekers in Hong Kong are routinely denied their rights belies Edward Snowden's stated trust in the rule of law here
The world is wondering why Edward Snowden chose Hong Kong in his darkest hour. Was this the safest bet? Will he seek asylum? How will this espionage thriller develop? Although Hong Kong is widely credited for its rule of law, there is a rampant divergence between jurisprudence and reality.
To illustrate this dislocation, imagine an alien from outer space researching refugee rights here. He would learn about laws that offer protection and would probably admire the justice and human rights enshrined in such legislation. "Here is a place that welcomes refugees!" he would exclaim. Our alien wouldn't realise that asylum seekers are actually treated no differently than illegal immigrants, endure chronic poverty and are marginalised without adequate social provision.
Thousands of asylum seekers denied a fair chance to prove their bona fides in Hong Kong
Lo and behold, an alien has landed and his name is Edward Snowden.
Would alien Snowden's experience be different from that of thousands of others who wait years for a decision on their asylum claim? Would Hong Kong roll out the red asylum carpet? Perhaps Snowden could peruse newspaper stories for a glimpse of reality.
A recent article on refugees' appalling living conditions in Ping Che was railed at by readers who overlooked such dreadful, government-sanctioned slums, because they label refugees as economic migrants. Regrettably, they also blame organisations like Vision First for advancing refugees' rights and humanitarian needs.
It's hard to predict what Snowden's next move might be. If he seeks asylum, he probably won't be accused of fabricating or exaggerating fears of persecution. Few are as famous, resourceful and articulate. And nobody has unleashed a media storm like this one before. By contrast, the stark reality couldn't be more different for thousands of asylum seekers denied a fair chance to prove their bona fides in Hong Kong.
The truth is that Snowden is a privileged American, while asylum seekers generally flee developing countries, are penniless and must work illegally to make ends meet. While presumably he has money to pay hotel bills, less celebrated asylum seekers sleep in slum-like conditions - if not homeless at the Star Ferry.