Hong Kong has confirmed Ed Snowden has left on a flight for Russia, part of a trip expected to take him to a third nation. Hong Kong did not stop him from leaving.

According to the Daily Mail

Hong Kong said: ‘The US Government earlier on made a request to the HKSAR Government for the issue of a provisional warrant of arrest against Mr Snowden. 

 

‘Since the documents provided by the US Government did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law, the HKSAR Government has requested the US Government to provide additional information so that the Department of Justice could consider whether the US Government’s request can meet the relevant legal conditions.

 

‘As the HKSAR Government has yet to have sufficient information to process the request for provisional warrant of arrest, there is no legal basis to restrict Mr Snowden from leaving Hong Kong.

 

Oh, wow. Free on a technicality. Although Hong Kong has its own government, it defers to China on political and diplomatic matters.