Edward Snowden Claims US Hacked China Targets

6/13/13 Report: NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, who leaked information about US surveillance programmes, claims that the American government has been hacking into computers in Hong Kong and mainland China for years. The South China Morning Post, which is based in Hong Kong, reported that Snowden said that one of the main targets was the Chinese University of Hong Kong as well as public officials, businesses and students in the city.

Ma Ngok, associate professor of the Department of Government and Public Administration at the university said he was shocked to hear that his emails may have been monitored.

"Of course as a person I don't like my email being watched by a government, but I'm also surprised because I think most of my emails are academic and educational stuff, and there is nothing related to the national security of the US," he said.

He also said that this incident might weaken the power of the US in its wranglings with China on the issue of cyber security.

The South China Morning Post's News Editor, Chow Chung-yan, said that Mr Snowden, who is currently in hiding in Hong Kong, was "fully aware of his actions as well as the consequences of his actions".