A4 Thursday, June 12, 2014 FOCUS Secret world The Post’s Lana Lam was the only Hong Kong reporter to interview the whistle-blower during his time in the city. Here, she did not report certain details about the circumstances of the Gore says tells of how the encounter came about, her hour-long webchat with the fugitive and the frenzy that erupted afterwards interview at the time because there were concerns about Snowden’s security. Snowden The voicemail message on the We also had to firm up the morning of Wednesday, June 12 information and make sure each performed last year was simple and to the story was published at the right point: “There’s someone I’d like time and to the complete satis- you to meet.” faction of both the newspaper vital service It was from a contact with and our sources. whom I had worked to uncover My contacts suggested I get a details of the secret rendition in different mobile number – set- Former NSA man was 2004 of Libyan dissident Sami ting the tone for two full weeks of al-Saadi from Chek Lap Kok air- round-the-clock fact-checking more a whistle-blower port to the torture cells of the late and hush-hush meetings. than a traitor, former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. As the first online alerts went The story revealed for the first out on our exclusive interview US vice-president says time that Hong Kong was part of a with Snowden, the newsroom secret campaign – run by United was abuzz – as were the office ................................................ States and British intelligence – to screens showing our online The Guardian kidnap and torture suspected hit-rates. terrorists, interrogating them When the first stories hit our with little regard for human rights website, traffic shot up. The Edward Snowden secured his or due process. frenzy increased further when highest endorsement yet in the To this day, the rest of the international television crews set US when former vice-president Hong Kong media have ignored up camp outside the Post’s office Al Gore described the leaking of the scandal of Saadi’s secret The room at the Sheraton in Tsim Sha Tsui where Lana Lam was led before the interview with Snowden could take place. Photos: Felix Wong in Causeway Bay. top secret intelligence docu- rendition, despite the fact that it It was 2am before I left the ments as “an important service”. was sanctioned at the highest office, dodging the television Asked if he regarded Snowden levels of their own government. my contact was on the way. The to worldwide fame, or notoriety, the view of the harbour. Along crews outside. Sleep was fitful at as a traitor or whistle-blower, What was to follow was a story relaxed chatter of locals enjoying depending on your viewpoint. with the sounds of people mov- best and what little I had was Gore on Tuesday veered away no one would be able ignore and a day off was in stark contrast to Also there was Ewen MacAskill, ing about and chatting, it felt so ended by my doorbell at 7am. from the “traitor” label. He one in which my role and that of my mood. one of The Guardian reporters On the laptop far removed from the world in Paranoid thoughts born out of refused to go as far as labelling this newspaper has been the sub- After a few minutes, a call who broke the first stories about which I now found myself. the story’s subject matter were him a whistle-blower but sig- ject of uninformed conjecture, came instructing me to go up to a the NSA’s secret and wide-rang- screen was a Asked if he was offended by quickly dispelled when the early nalled he viewed him as being unverified rumour and plain different level of the hotel. ing collection of phone and web chat box with accusations that he was a traitor, morning caller turned out to be a closer to that category than a trai- untruth which, for the sake of When I got there, I found data from its citizens. he replied: “No, I believe in free- tenacious former colleague in tor, saying: “What he revealed in accuracy, demands a response. myself on a totally deserted floor. They stepped outside to dis- the name Verax, dom of expression. search of a scoop. the course of violating important “I have something very I looked around, but couldn’t cuss their next move, leaving me “I acted in good faith, but it is Over the next few days and laws included violations of the US important. I want to reach you,’’ find anyone. alone in the room. Snowden’s only right that the public form its weeks, my e-mail inbox was constitution that were way more the voicemail said. There was an Then, in the distance behind a online handle own opinion.” flooded with requests for inter- serious than the crimes he unusually urgent edge to my large column, I saw my contact – Undivided attention Snowden’s reputation and views, as well as misguided committed.” contact’s voice. Just three days and a man who was introduced credibility came under fire the requests for me to give up my Snowden leaked US and Brit- had passed since Edward Snow- to me as a colleague – standing The curtains were partially at a black laptop. On the screen moment he broke cover and his sources. ish documents to The Guardian den had broken cover in Hong slightly out of sight, but obviously drawn, offering a glimpse of was a chat box with the name concerns about this were appar- and The Washington Post in June Kong and my mind was racing as waiting for me. Victoria Harbour, and several Verax, Snowden’s online handle. ent during our conversation. Truth and lies last year, starting a worldwide de- I returned the call. Speaking in hushed tones, we laptops were strewn around. This was it. I had his undivid- “Just please try not to make bate on the balance between sur- My contact apologised for took the lift to the executive floor A camera was set up on a ed attention. me look like a jerk. I’m getting Snowden’s decision last summer veillance and privacy. His revela- bothering me on a public holiday and into one of the suites. tripod and a half-eaten Nashi “Hi Lana, thanks for coming enough of that in the media to reveal details of US cyber- tions have led to proposed – it was the Dragon Boat festival – Inside, my suspicions that the pear lay on the table beside a for this,” Verax, Latin for “truth- already,” he said. attacks on Hong Kong and main- changes in legislation in the US and said the situation required cloak and dagger operation was small bottle of red wine, which teller”, wrote as we began a He spoke about his concerns land Chinese targets to the Post and a backlash against govern- complete secrecy. for former US National Security was opened, but not empty. real-time online chat using a for his family as well as his faith in falls neatly into his modus ope- ment surveillance by major tele- Our relationship was based Agency contractor Snowden When they returned, we secure network that encrypts the Hong Kong’s legal system before randi, which is to work closely coms and internet companies. on a mutual trust built over many were confirmed. moved to a different location conversation. he signed off. “Okay. Thank you with trusted media outlets to ex- months, so without hesitation I Sitting behind a desk in front within the hotel, but not before Snowden went straight to the for agreeing to meet on such pose cyber espionage pro- accepted the need for discretion. of a laptop was Laura Poitras, Poitras confiscated our mobile reason we were both there. “The short notice for this,” he wrote. grammes run by the NSA. Names and details could not Snowden’s closest confidante. phones, saying they must be left United States government has Then he was gone. His decision also ensured that be mentioned over the phone. I She is also the documentary in the room. committed a tremendous num- I talked with Poitras for a few his profile in Hong Kong was was instructed to be in the lobby film-maker who made the 12- I asked Poitras when I would ber of crimes against Hong more minutes. We shook hands raised dramatically. of the Sheraton Hotel in Tsim Sha minute video of Snowden that be meeting Snowden. “Soon”, Kong,” he said. “The PRC as well.” and I left. Just two days after the Post Tsui that afternoon. And I was to catapulted the then 29-year-old she said. For security reasons, the Shortly after this, the network published the first in a series of come alone. former CIA infrastructure analyst meeting would not be face-to- we were using dropped out a few In the spotlight stories, hundreds of supporters It was a short call, big on face, but online. times. Snowden was worried. took to the streets, marching to repercussions. Then came more waiting and “Sorry,” he said. “Please Stepping back outside into the the US consulate and demanding the opportunity to talk with advise Laura that I am being oppressive humidity, the blaring that the local authorities protect Waiting game MacAskill, who described Snow- repeatedly dropped by the Jitsi car horns and the clacking traffic him from extradition. Al Gore expressed strong views den as “calm”.