NSA whistle-blower Snowden - staying one step ahead of the authorities

http://mg.co.za/article/2013-06-12-whistle-blower-snowden-staying-one-step-ahead-of-authorities
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The 29-year-old Snowden's whereabouts were unknown on Tuesday, a day after he checked out of a trendy hotel in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong. But large photos of his face were splashed on most Hong Kong newspapers with headlines such as "Deep Throat Hides in HK", and "World's Most Wanted Man Breaks Cover in Hong Kong".

The coverage is likely to increase the chances of him being recognised, although he could still blend with the city's tens of thousands of expatriates from the United States, Britain, Australia and Europe.

If and when the justice department charges him – and it's not certain when that will be – its next step will likely be to ask the International Criminal Police Organisation, or Interpol, for a provisional request to arrest him pending extradition to the United States.

Assuming that Snowden is still in Hong Kong, the judicial proceedings for an extradition request could take a year, and once completed it would be up to Hong Kong's leader, known as the chief executive, to decide on handing over Snowden, said Michael Blanchflower, a Hong Kong lawyer with three decades of experience in extradition cases.

"Ultimately it is his decision," he said.