A young Chinese refugee claimant who disguised himself as an elderly white male to board a flight to Canada used a legitimate U.S. passport and other identification, CTV News has learned.

Sources close to the investigation say the man received the passport and other documents, including a boarding pass, from an elderly white American who passed through security.

The refugee claimant then flushed the documents down the airplane toilet during the flight, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Monday night.

Police in Hong Kong believe the young man had at least two accomplices, including the American.

"Officials say that this isn't your usual human smuggling operation run by organized crime. They suspect that he might be a Chinese dissident," Fife said.

Fife also reported that Hong Police were at the gate when the young man boarded the plane, but did not notice his disguise. However, just a few hours earlier, police arrested two other people attempting to board a flight to Canada. One of those arrested had a fake cast on his arm, with documents hidden inside.

Meanwhile, the lawyer for the refugee claimant wants to ban media from his hearings with the Immigration and Refugee Board.

If that request is denied, lawyer Dan McLeod asked the Board to ban Chinese-language media, saying they are controlled by China's communist government.

Reporters from Sing Tao, Ming Pao and the World Journal opposed the ban, saying they had no ties to the Chinese government.

McLeod said his client's life will be at risk if the refugee hearing is public, and said the young man is already in danger because his picture was released to the media.

Jim Murray, a lawyer for Canada Border Services Agency, said the young man is part of an organization in China that may put his safety into jeopardy.

Ten days ago, the man boarded an Air Canada flight in Hong Kong wearing a silicone mask that hid his true identity.

At some point during the flight, the man went to the washroom and emerged as a much younger individual. Flight staff quickly noticed what had happened and notified authorities.

When the plane landed in Vancouver, the man was escorted off the flight by police. He then made a claim for refugee protection.

The case became public after CNN reported the story involving the man and his mask.

Lee Rankin, another Canadian lawyer for the man, said it is not unusual for someone who is seeking asylum to disguise their appearance.

"Other than the leak (to the media) and the mask, it's completely typical," Rankin told The Canadian Press on Sunday.

"I've dealt with people who've worn wigs, who've dyed their hair and changed their appearance to look like the document they've been provided. It's a bit unusual, but so what?"

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has also said that the issue of the mask is the only unusual aspect of the case.

Meanwhile, the separate issue of the leak of the story to CNN remains under investigation by the Canada Border Service Agency.

CBSA spokesperson Patrizia Giolti said the manner in which the story was leaked to CNN "did not follow standard media relations practices."

Richard Kurland, a Vancouver immigration lawyer who is not involved in the case, told The Canadian Press that the media leak was a serious breach of security.

"A refugee claim happens many times a day in Canada, but an intelligence bulletin that's current, that finds its way to CNN? It's astonishing," Kurland said.

"It's a potential hole in the intelligence fence. For the same reason they won't release (such a document) under access to information because it may raise a national security question or expose investigative techniques, the reasons equally apply to this situation.

With a report by CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife and files from The Canadian Press