Chat message

Slack / Private Message Drop, p.146 [SLACK_000360] · slack_pm:msg:01501

Date: 2020-08-26 02:38
Type: chat message · slack
recipient: Kristian G. Andersen, Robert F. Garry, Andrew Rambaut
speaker: Edward C. Holmes
Topics: China relations and data access Wuhan Institute of Virology collaboration Intelligence community assessments

Recipients on this medium are inferred from channel membership, not per-message addressing.

The application for information is expressed as follows and covers the time period from 29 December 2019 to 23 July 2020: _Records generated after the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in China in communications with individuals or institutions located in China. The timeframe for these records is December 29, 2019, through the fulfillment of this request.__ __The categories of records covered under this request include the following:__ _1. _Copies of communications such as emails sent (including by CC, BCC or forward) to or from personnel at the Viral Evolution Lab with the Faculty of Science (https:www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/lifeand-environmental-sciences/viral-evolution.html)_2. _Copies of documents that involve informal or formal policies, legislation, or legal authorities or responsibilities,for example: opening, closing or interim summaries/status reports; memoranda; official and/or unofficial policy statements; notes; meeting minutes or summaries; etc._ _With regard to search criteria:__ __In general, searches should be broad enough to encompass any discussion (whether internal or external) ofSARS-CoV-2 with individuals or institutions in China. Electronic search terms used to find responsive records should include but not be limited to "China CDC", "Wuhan CDC", "Wuhan Institute of Virology", "George Gao", "Gao Fu","Shi Zhengli", "Bi Yuhai", "Yuan Zhiming", "Wang Yanyi", "Chinese Academy of Sciences"; "CAS"; "Jinyintan"; "UnionHospital"; "Tongji Hospital"; "China Red Cross"; "BGI"; "Beijing Genomics Institute".__ _The applicant clarified the scope of the application as follows: _"I'm looking for any correspondences between the University of Sydney's lab conducting coronavirus research (_https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/life-and-environmental-sciences/viral-evolution.html_) and scientists in China, including but not limited to researchers at the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with which the lab has an ongoing collaboration."_

Links shared

other www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/lifeand-environmental-sciences/viral-evolution.html)_2
other https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/life-and-environmental-sciences/viral-evolution.html_

In context

A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.

2020-08-26 02:38 Edward C. Holmes open

Vague fishing exercise:
2020-08-26 02:38 Edward C. Holmes

The application for information is expressed as follows and covers the time period from 29 December 2019 to 23 July 2020: _Records generated after the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in China in communications with individuals or institutions located in China. The timeframe for these records is December 29, 2019, through the fulfillment of this request.__ __The categories of records covered under this request include the following:__ _1. _Copies of communications such as emails sent (including by CC, BCC or forward) to or from personnel at the Viral Evolution Lab with the Faculty of Science (https:www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/lifeand-environmental-sciences/viral-evolution.html)_2. _Copies of documents that involve informal or formal policies, legislation, or legal authorities or responsibilities,for example: opening, closing or interim summaries/status reports; memoranda; official and/or unofficial policy statements; notes; meeting minutes or summaries; etc._ _With regard to search criteria:__ __In general, searches should be broad enough to encompass any discussion (whether internal or external) ofSARS-CoV-2 with individuals or institutions in China. Electronic search terms used to find responsive records should include but not be limited to "China CDC", "Wuhan CDC", "Wuhan Institute of Virology", "George Gao", "Gao Fu","Shi Zhengli", "Bi Yuhai", "Yuan Zhiming", "Wang Yanyi", "Chinese Academy of Sciences"; "CAS"; "Jinyintan"; "UnionHospital"; "Tongji Hospital"; "China Red Cross"; "BGI"; "Beijing Genomics Institute".__ _The applicant clarified the scope of the application as follows: _"I'm looking for any correspondences between the University of Sydney's lab conducting coronavirus research (_https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/life-and-environmental-sciences/viral-evolution.html_) and scientists in China, including but not limited to researchers at the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with which the lab has an ongoing collaboration."_
2020-08-26 02:47 Edward C. Holmes open

Clearly, they are looking for links between me and various people/institutions in China. I've gone through all myemail and the only person on that list of searches (and the Uni have advised me only consider that specific list ofsearch terms) is George. There are about 8 email chains between George & I (and some others) since Jan 1,amounting to 23 pages in a PDF, most of which is blank pages or other people. Nothing dodgy, although there's onepleading that Zhang be shown mercy). I'm going to fight them having it, but there's nothing there. Journo will be very disappointed.

Full conversation →