Hong Kong lawmakers slam Washington for Snowden censure
US accused of hypocrisy for condemning city and Beijing for letting the leaker leave
Hong Kong lawmakers hit back yesterday at US disappointment with the city and Beijing for not handing over surveillance leaker Edward Snowden.
They passed a proposal to write to Congress and the White House condemning the comments and demanding an investigation of cyberspying activities against Hong Kong residents.
The US is like a villain suing the victim before the victim could prosecute him. It's completely disrespectful of Hong Kong and its citizens
Beijing meanwhile described Hong Kong's action in letting Snowden leave the city as "beyond reproach".
"The US is like a villain suing the victim before the victim could prosecute him. It's completely disrespectful of Hong Kong and its citizens," Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah said.
US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said after a meeting with senior Chinese officials in Washington that the United States was "very disappointed with how the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong handled the Snowden case, which undermined our effort to build the trust needed to manage difficult issues".
President Barack Obama also expressed "disappointment and concern".
Former US government contractor Snowden was allowed to leave Hong Kong on June 23 after revealing details of US intelligence cybersurveillance both locally and internationally, despite the US seeking his extradition to face charges of espionage.
