Live updates: Hong Kong to hold march to support Edward Snowden - South China Morning Post

1.39pm

We've got #FreeSpeech umbrellas ready for the #SnowdenHK rally today at 3 in #HongKong #Prism #NSA pic.twitter.com/cnHiGThnMw

— Support Snowden HK (@EdSnowdenRally) June 15, 2013

1.30pm

The route Snowden marchers are expected to take in the afternoon. 

View 6?15???????? HK June 15 Rally to Support Edward Snowden in a larger map

1.10pm

Organisers of Saturday's afternoon Snowden march have posted open letters that they will try to hand to the US consulate and the Hong Kong government. 

To Consul General Steve Young: "We are a peaceful coalition of 27 civil society organizations from Hong Kong writing to express our grave concern regarding revelations of Internet and telephone communications surveillance of US and non-US citizens by the US government. We request you to stop running these surveillance programs against innocent internet users in Hong Kong and around the world..."

To Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying: "We request the Hong Kong government to afford Mr Edward Snowden protection under Hong Kong law and all international legal covenants to which we are party to..."

12.53pm

2 hours to go, rally is ON - we need YOU! 3pm, Exit J2 Central. Preparations: http://t.co/QWB1AIytME Meeting point: http://t.co/aAAXEt7hmX

— Support Snowden HK (@EdSnowdenRally) June 15, 2013

12.30pm

Eight members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong marched from Chater Garden to the US consulate on Saturday morning, demanding the US government to stop hacking the city's computers.

They said that former CIA analyst Edward Snowden's accusations were serious and that US representatives should give an explanation to the Hong Kong public.

It was revealed in a South China Morning Post report that the US National Security Agency had hacked into computers in Hong Kong and on the mainland. One target was Chinese University.

DAB lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king said they were unpleased that no one from the consulate received their petition. "That shows the US government is not respecting Hongkongers who are very concerned about Snowden's accusations," she said.

On whether Hong Kong should extradite Snowden to the US if requested, she said it was too early to judge.

Another protest organised by internet users will be held at 3pm.

-Ada Lee

12.25pm

Today: Hong Kong Civic Groups Plan March in Support of #Snowden: Bloomberg News: http://t.co/K8NtyWhiyF #SnowdenHK #PRISM #whistleblower

— Robyn Connell (@enquerre) June 15, 2013

8.43am

Organisers of a Support Edward Snowden march said they expected 200 activists from more than 20 local groups to join, according to the march's website (earlier this post 13 groups). The protest, starting at 3pm at Chater Garden in Central, will see the activists march to the US consulate in Garden Road before continuing to the government headquarters in Admiralty, where the 2½-hour demonstration is expected to conclude.

Pan-democratic lawmakers Albert Ho Chun-yan, Charles Mok, and Claudia Mo Man-ching are among those who have agreed to address the protest as a show of solidarity against Snowden's extradition to the US.