When Edward Snowden unexpectedly arrived at Vanessa Rodel's tiny flat in one of Hong Kong's poorest neighbourhoods late at night in 2013, the asylum seeker did not realise just how much more she could lose when she welcomed him into her home.

Key points: Hong Kong has a near zero per cent acceptance rate of asylum seekers

Hong Kong has a near zero per cent acceptance rate of asylum seekers The group's refugee applications are also before Canada's Minister of Immigration

The group's refugee applications are also before Canada's Minister of Immigration Montreal-based lawyers have made requests to expedite the decision-making of the cases

Ms Rodel, who fled from the Philippines in 2002, is part of a group of asylum seekers who took turns sheltering Mr Snowden after the NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower leaked documents exposing the US Government's Prism surveillance program.

The four adults and three children known as the "Snowden refugees" — who have since been mostly stripped of their humanitarian support — are in the process of appealing against their previously rejected asylum applications.

Edward Snowden leaked classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA). ( News Online Sydney )

Their Canadian lawyer Robert Tibbo told the ABC their fate would soon be decided by three Australian lawyers, whose identities have not been revealed due to what Mr Tibbo called Hong Kong's "completely closed" legal system.

"It was quite extraordinary that three Australian nationals were chosen to decide these cases," he said.

But based on Hong Kong's near zero per cent acceptance rate, Mr Tibbo said it was "almost certain that the clients will not succeed in their asylum claims, irrespective of the merits".

"If their appeals are rejected in August … they all have refugee claims that have been filed through the Quebec Government, which are now before the Minister of Immigration," said Mr Tibbo, who previously also represented Mr Snowden.

Montreal-based lawyer, Marc-Andre Seguin, who filed the refugee applications in Canada, has also made requests to expedite the decision-making of the cases because of the prospect of the group being deported to their home countries.

'As a refugee in Hong Kong, you can die with nothing'

Vanessa Rodel and Keana hope they can start a new life in Canada. ( Photo: Jayne Russell )

Ms Rodel and the other so-called "Snowden refugees", who fled to Hong Kong from Sri Lanka, were introduced to Mr Snowden in 2013 by a mutual lawyer.

"They immediately recognised how vulnerable he was, and they saw Mr Snowden in the same position they had been in when they had fled persecution in their home countries," Mr Tibbo said.

Ms Rodel said she was "upset" and "afraid" about the possible outcomes of her asylum claim, which could see her separated from her daughter.

"I'm just hoping that the Canada Government will decide soon that [they will] let us come in," she said.

Vanessa Rodel and Keana's fate will soon be decided by three Australians. ( Photo: Jayne Russell )

That would be the ideal outcome for the single mother whose life changed overnight when her involvement in hiding Mr Snowden came to light in 2016 through the media and an Oliver Stone documentary.

It started with journalists knocking on her door and then the Hong Kong Government questioning her about Mr Snowden.

After refusing to breach Mr Snowden's trust, the Government stripped all of the humanitarian assistance provided to her and her now six-year-old daughter, Keana.

It was a double whammy for the Filipino asylum seeker who also is not allowed to work in the territory.

"We have nothing in Hong Kong … we're not safe in Hong Kong," Ms Rodel said.

"You can [only] stay at your house, looking at the wall … so you just waste your life.

"If you stay in Hong Kong as a refugee, you can die with nothing."

'We would be safe in Canada'

The seven "Snowden" refugees hid Edward Snowden in Hong Kong in 2013. ( Supplied: Jayne Russell )

The other asylum seekers, including Supun Kellapatha, his wife Nadeeka Dilrukshi and their two children, as well as ex-Sri Lankan soldier Ajith Kankanamalage, have also had their government support slashed.

For the Refugees, a Canadian NGO dedicated to helping the group of seven, is paying for their humanitarian and basic needs in Hong Kong. The donations have kept Ms Rodel's daughter Keana in school.

Vanessa Rodel and Keana now live in a one-bedoom flat. ( Photo: Jayne Russell )

But despite the hardships Ms Rodel faced after letting the "the most wanted man in the world" into her home, she said she she felt emboldened after reading about him in the news.

She has become an activist for the rights of asylum seekers in Hong Kong, and has participated in international women's protests.

"Sometimes deep inside my heart … [I've] been so depressed, don't want to do anything, but I have to because I have my daughter," Ms Rodel said.

"I know when we get into Canada we would be safe, we have freedom and we can start our new life."

With the last of the three family's appeals heard last month, Mr Tibbo said they were now waiting for seven decisions to be handed down.

"We're hoping that the three Australian adjudicators will find in our clients' favours on appeal," he said.

"If they do so, because of these sponsorships in Canada by the NGO For the Refugees, the clients would be able to effectively immediately apply for visas to go to Canada."