HONG KONG (AP) — The Hong Kong government says a former National Security Agency contractor wanted by the U.S. for revealing two highly classified surveillance programs has left for a "third country."

The South China Morning Post reported Sunday that Edward Snowden was on a plane for Moscow, but that Russia was not his final destination. Snowden has talked of seeking asylum in Iceland.

The newspaper also reports Snowden says U.S. hacking targets in China included the nation's mobile-phone companies and two universities hosting extensive Internet traffic hubs.

Hong Kong said in a statement that it allowed Snowden to leave despite an extradition request from the U.S. because documents provided by the U.S. government did not "fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law."

It said there was no legal basis to stop Snowden from leaving.

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