Edward Snowden Reported “Missing”

The BBC reports that NSA leaker Edward Snowden checked out of his Hong Kong hotel today and that his present whereabouts are unknown.

Hong Kong’s broadcaster RTHK said Mr Snowden checked out of the Mira hotel on Monday. Reuters news agency quoted hotel staff as saying that he had left at noon. Ewen MacAskill, a Guardian journalist, told the BBC he believed Mr Snowden was still in Hong Kong. Hong Kong – a Chinese territory – has an extradition treaty with the US, although analysts say any attempts to bring Mr Snowden to America may take months and could be blocked by Beijing. Mr Snowden is believed to have arrived in Hong Kong on 20 May. A standard visa on arrival in the territory for a US citizen lasts for 90 days.