This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/world/asia/retiring-us-envoy-faults-hong-kong-and-china-on-snowden.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Retiring U.S. Envoy Faults Hong Kong and China on Snowden Retiring U.S. Envoy Faults Hong Kong and China on Snowden
(about 2 hours later)
HONG KONG — The American consul general here had some pointed words on Thursday for Hong Kong and the Chinese authorities, saying that their decision to let the former United States intelligence contractor Edward J. Snowden flee to Moscow last month had “damaged the very high level of trust” between Hong Kong and the United States, and that repairing the relationship would take time.HONG KONG — The American consul general here had some pointed words on Thursday for Hong Kong and the Chinese authorities, saying that their decision to let the former United States intelligence contractor Edward J. Snowden flee to Moscow last month had “damaged the very high level of trust” between Hong Kong and the United States, and that repairing the relationship would take time.
Stephen M. Young will leave his post as the top American representative here by the end of the month, and in departing remarks to reporters he said the Snowden case raised serious questions about the legal autonomy Hong Kong is supposed to enjoy from mainland China under the agreement by which Britain handed its former colony over to Beijing in 1997. The consul general, Stephen M. Young, who will leave his post as the top American representative here by the end of the month, said in departing remarks to reporters that the Snowden case raised serious questions about the legal autonomy Hong Kong is supposed to hold under the agreement by which Britain handed its former colony over to mainland China in 1997.
“There was a China factor here,” he said in suggesting that the Chinese government steered Hong Kong into letting Mr. Snowden flee to Russia on June 23. ‘'China let us down.'’ “There was a China factor here,” he said in suggesting that the Chinese government steered Hong Kong into letting Mr. Snowden flee to Russia on June 23. “China let us down.”
During an hourlong news conference, Mr. Young occasionally directed pointed words at Beijing’s influence here, and at one point he upbraided a reporter from a mainland Chinese newspaper, saying, ‘'I wish you would be more objective,” adding, “but you have your masters in Beijing.” During an hourlong news conference, Mr. Young occasionally directed pointed words at Beijing’s influence here, and at one point upbraided a reporter from a mainland Chinese newspaper, saying, “I wish you would be more objective,” adding, “but you have your masters in Beijing.”
Until the Snowden incident, Hong Kong had enjoyed warm relations with the United States and cooperated closely with local law enforcement officials. But Mr. Young said that trust had been eroded by Mr. Snowden’s departure, noting that American presidents and secretaries of state are not normally focused on ties with Hong Kong, and that this episode had probably left a negative imprint in their minds. Until the Snowden episode, Hong Kong had warm relations with the United States and cooperated closely with local law enforcement officials. But Mr. Young said that trust had been eroded by Mr. Snowden’s departure, noting that American presidents and secretaries of state are not normally focused on ties with Hong Kong, and that this sequence of events had probably left a negative imprint in their minds.
“It will take some time to repair the damage there. We were frankly disappointed by the way our colleagues here in Hong Kong” handled the situation, he said. “It will take some time to repair the damage there,” he said. “We were frankly disappointed by the way our colleagues here in Hong Kong” handled the situation.
Mr. Snowden fled Hong Kong after the United States asked the local authorities to detain and send him to the United States on charges that he illegally disclosed classified documents about global American surveillance programs. He has been staying in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, awaiting a decision from the Russian authorities on his request for temporary asylum.Mr. Snowden fled Hong Kong after the United States asked the local authorities to detain and send him to the United States on charges that he illegally disclosed classified documents about global American surveillance programs. He has been staying in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, awaiting a decision from the Russian authorities on his request for temporary asylum.
While citing recent cases of what he called mainland Chinese intimidation of Hong Kong media outlets, Mr. Young nevertheless expressed confidence in the ‘'one country, two systems” governance of Hong Kong, in which Beijing exercises control over the territory’s defense and foreign policy while ceding autonomy on other matters. While citing recent cases of what he called mainland Chinese intimidation of Hong Kong media outlets, Mr. Young nevertheless expressed confidence in the “one country, two systems” governance of Hong Kong, in which Beijing exercises control over the territory’s defense and foreign policy while ceding autonomy on other matters.
“The U.S. has long had an interest in the success of the one country, two systems model,” he said.“The U.S. has long had an interest in the success of the one country, two systems model,” he said.
Mr. Young is being replaced as consul general here by Ford Hart, who is currently the United States special envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea, which have been stalled amid tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Mr. Young, who will retire from the Foreign Service, is being replaced as consul general by Ford Hart, who is the United States special envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea, which have stalled amid tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear program.