HONG KONG — Fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden hit back at the Hong Kong government Thursday for rejecting the protection bids of a group of refugees who sheltered him while he was hiding out in the city. They have spent years hoping the Hong Kong government would recognize their cases and save them from being sent back to their home countries where they say they were persecuted. Hong Kong is not a signatory to the U.N.'s refugee convention and does not grant asylum. One of the refugees, Vanessa Rodel from the Philippines, who lives in Hong Kong with her 5-year-old daughter, broke down over the news of the decision. Lawyers for the Snowden refugees have separately lodged an asylum petition with the Canadian government and are calling for to be expedited.

Source: The China Post May 18, 2017 07:30 UTC