Washington (CNN) -- The United States has contacted authorities in Hong Kong to seek the extradition of Edward Snowden, the man who admitted leaking top-secret details about U.S. surveillance programs, a senior U.S. administration official said Saturday. Federal prosecutors charged Snowden with espionage and theft of government property, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Virginia on Friday. The United States based the extradition request on the criminal complaint and a treaty between the United States and Hong Kong that covers the surrender of "fugitive offenders" and their extradition. Washington already asked Hong Kong, where Snowden is believed to be in hiding, to detain the former National Security Agency contract analyst on a provisional arrest warrant, The Washington Post reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
@highlight
NEW: Hong Kong authorities say they'll examine the charges against Snowden
@highlight
U.S. contacts Hong Kong to seek Edward Snowden's extradition
@highlight
Snowden has said he plan to fight any extradition attempt
@highlight
Snowden tells paper that U.S. government is hacking Chinese mobile phone firms
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
"That's a political crime under the extradition we have with @placeholder.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
It gives @placeholder an excuse to say we don't have to extradite him.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Then @placeholder would have to comply with the extradition treaty and turn him over."