A Chinese swimmer who sought asylum because...
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A Chinese swimmer who sought asylum because he feared he would be arrested if he returned home, was released by the Hong Kong government and is headed for the United States.
Yang Yang, 20, had been in custody pending a return to China, but was let go under a discretionary clause in the immigration ordinance, a government spokesman said.
Yang had sought political asylum in Hong Kong after his tourist visa expired in August. He said he had joined pro-democracy marches in the British colony and feared Chinese authorities would jail him upon return.
A spokesman for the United States Information Service said the U.S. Consulate received Yang’s application and supporting document before granting him a visa.
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