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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Chinese Spying Devices Installed on Hong Kong Cars |
| 2011-06-14 |
| For years now Chinese authorities have been installing spying devices on all dual-plate Chinese-Hong Kong vehicles, enabling a vast network of eavesdropping across the archipelago, according to a Hong Kong newspaper. The report in Apple Daily states that the recording devices began being installed as “inspection and quarantine cards” in July 2007. They were installed without charge by the Shenzhen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on thousands of vehicles. Smugglers were the first to note something strange about the devices. A source told Apple Daily that after the cards were installed mainland authorities had no trouble picking off the cars carrying illicit goods. “For every ten cars we ran we only had [smuggled goods] in three or four to reduce the risk, but the border agents caught all of them. The accuracy was unreal!” Apple Daily quoted the smuggler saying. The device, no larger than a PDA, is taped onto the vehicle’s front window. Protective tape covers the screws, presumably to prevent tampering—though it didn’t stop Apple Daily from removing the devices, taking them to experts for inspection, and presenting pictures of them splayed open on their website, with neat graphics indicating the various internal components. A senior manager in an unidentified company noted that those who qualify for the dual license plate usually have some financial clout. If their business conversations in the car were recorded and the information shared, he said, it may be enough to send people bankrupt. HKBusiness.net, an online news site, says that businesses that invested more than $1 million in mainland China and paid more than 30,000 yuan in tax over the past year qualify for a dual license plate. Apple Daily quotes a source saying there are at least 20,000 cars with dual license places, and tens of thousands of trucks and buses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now requires that all automobiles are required to contain the event data recorder – similar to those found in aircraft – in order to monitor driving habits and provide a snapshot of the final moment of impact if the car crashes. The snapshot will be able to be viewed by law enforcement, insurance companies and automakers and the owner of the vehicle will not be able to turn it on or off. Incorporation of continual GPS tracking is expected before the introduction of the new vehicle mileage tax. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #1 ION China repor is allowing Hong Kongers to join the PLA. Uh, uh, RECRUITING AD > "IFF YOU JOIN THE PLA IN HONG KONG, WE WON'T SPY ON YOU AS MUCH AS WE DO BACK HOME - NOW WID FREE TWITTER"??? gut nuthin. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-06-14 21:32 |