THE SIDELINES : Chinese Swimmer Coming to U.S.
A Chinese swimmer who sought asylum because he feared he would be arrested if he returned home was released by the Hong Kong government today and headed for the United States.
Yang Yang, 20, who had been in custody pending a return to China, was released 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 that Chinese authorities would jail him when he went back.
Immigration officials arrested him Sept. 23 because his visa had expired.
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