Britain has asked airlines worldwide to block American Edward Snowden, who leaked details of US Government internet and telephone surveillance operations, from boarding any plane heading for the UK.
A report said British officials had confirmed the alert, issued on Monday, telling airlines to stop Mr Snowden from boarding because "the individual is likely to be refused entry to the UK."
Mr Snowden, a former US National Security Agency contractor who travelled to Hong Kong before the details were made public, revealed on Sunday that he was behind the leaked information describing the surveillance programmes.
Various airlines in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore confirmed the alert, according to the Associated Press, which said it learned of the British letter to airlines from a photograph of the request seen at an airport in Thailand.
A spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Airport Authority said it had not received any notice from British authorities requesting that airlines block Mr Snowden.
Mr Snowden said he planned to stay in Hong Kong and would fight any effort to bring him back to the US to face charges.
A spokesman for the UK Home Office declined to comment on the report, as did a spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron.
US officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Cathay Pacific Airways declined to confirm the British request, saying it was "inappropriate" to discuss government communications.
Other airlines could not be immediately reached or had no immediate comment.
The British alert was issued by the UK Border Agency's Risk and Liaison Overseas Network, the report said.
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