The findings also came as Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying broke his silence on one of the most diplomatically sensitive episodes in the city's history, saying the case would be handled in accordance with the "laws and established procedures of Hong Kong … when the relevant mechanism is activated". Leung said the government would "follow up on any incidents related to the privacy or other rights of the institutions or people in Hong Kong being violated". The statement is a clear reference to claims by Snowden in an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post last week, that the US National Security Agency has hacked into computers in Hong Kong and on the mainland for years. Snowden has been hiding in a safe house in Hong Kong ever since the Guardian revealed last Sunday that he was the man behind what is possibly the most serious intelligence leak in recent American history. "According to the agreement to surrender fugitive offenders, the Hong Kong government has no choice but to follow the procedures - unless Beijing chooses to intervene at this stage," he said.  Half of Hong Kong people believe that cyberspying whistle-blower Edward Snowden should not be handed over if Washington makes a formal request for his return, according to an exclusive opinion poll commissioned by the Sunday Morning Post. The Post poll, carried out by the Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey at Chinese University found that 49.9 per cent of the 509 respondents were "against" or "strongly against" the government surrendering Snowden to the US if Washington were to ask the city to do so. Nearly one in five said Hong Kong should hand him over, and the remainder refused to answer or said they had not formed an opinion.
– Hundreds gathered at a rally in Hong Kong today chanting "protect free speech—protect Snowden" and urging the government not to extradite the NSA whistleblower back to the US, reports the Guardian. The protest comes two days after Snowden told local media that the NSA has been hacking China since 2009. "It's unlawful, unjustified and unscrupulous," said a Hong Kong politician at the rally. "We demand the whole truth be disclosed by the US administration, an unconditional apology from Obama and an assurance this interference will stop." A poll commissioned by the South China Morning Post has found only 17.6% of Hong Kong people believe Snowden should be extradited, while 50% oppose the move. The poll also found 33% believe he is a "hero." Meanwhile, sources tell the Post that the US is yet to make any requests with Hong Kong over Snowden, and rejects claims that US and Hong Kong government lawyers have been working together.