Any attempt by the US to extradite the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden from Hong Kong for espionage could take years as the process is a lengthy legal battle, experts have said.
Snowden is reportedly hiding somewhere in Hong Kong, and is now also facing espionage charges against the U.S. government.
According to the New York Daily News, legal experts said the possible extradition could take years and could likely be blocked by China.
The U.S. and Hong Kong have had an extradition treaty in place since 1998, which has resulted in the expulsion of a multitude of American citizens.
Hectar Pun, a barrister who works closely with human rights litigation, said that there is plenty of legal red tape with such a complicated issue.
Pun said getting Snowden back to America could take between three to five years.
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Lawyers also said that Hong Kong might also charge Snowden with similar crimes.
According to the report, the 29-year-old former NSA contractor was charged under the Espionage Act, and was also charged with theft of government property for leaking classified information that the National Security Agency has been collecting Americans' phone records and Internet data from companies.
Hong Kong officials have not weighed in on their response to the charges, which each carry a 10-year maximum sentence.
It also remains unclear if U.S. officials have begun the process of trying to extradite Snowden from the island city-state, the report added.