US Olympic tourists warned about monitoring in hotels
WASHINGTON — Americans traveling to China for the Olympic Games in August can expect their hotel rooms there to be monitored, the State Department warned on its website.
"All visitors should be aware that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy in public or private locations," according to the State Department site.
"All hotel rooms and offices are considered to be subject to on-site or remote technical monitoring at all times. Hotel rooms, residences and offices may be accessed at any time without the occupant's consent or knowledge," it said.
It added that many hotels and apartment buildings may be poorly built, lack emergency exits, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide monitors and basic security like locks, alarms, and personnel.
It also said that the threat of terrorism appeared to be minimal, but urged caution nonetheless.
"The threat level for terrorism against Americans in China remains low. However, any large-scale public event like the upcoming Olympic Games could become the focus of terrorist acts or other forms of violence," it said.
"There is no reason to believe that US citizens are being targeted at this time," it said.
It also said crime rates were relatively low, with major metropolitan areas safer than similar sized cities in other developing countries.
But "while the overall crime threat is low, the number of criminal incidents, including those directed against Americans, continues to rise," it added.
The Olympic Summer Games will take place from August 8-24, followed by the Beijing Paralympic Summer Games 2008 from September 6-17.
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Comments
The tone of the U.S. State Department’s Warning would make it seem that everyone, both tourists and business travelers need to be keenly aware of their privacy issues, at all times.
As an American citizen who has a home and a business in China, I could not agree more. However, this is NOT an issue specific to China.
Industrial espionage is a sanctioned activity by many Eastern and Western governments. Monitoring foreigners has become a multi-billion dollar industry here in the USA with numerous privacy and civil rights violations occurring daily against our own citizens and foreigners.
Having worked extensively in China for more than eight years, I have never once felt as though my privacy has been infringed upon. I have conducted high level trade missions and business meetings in which anti-electronic eavesdropping measures (sweeping for bugs) have been done by professionals, and never once, was a monitoring device found.
Should foreigners exercise caution in what they say on the phone, send via email and fax, store on their laptops and PDA’s? YES. All of these communication channels are monitored here in the USA, and defiantly in China.
Why should a government not monitor for illegal and immoral activities? It is not only their right; it is their duty and responsibility, both here in the USA and in other countries.
Traveler’s to China, that respects the laws, culture and customs should have nothing to fear. You will have a wonderful, exciting and educational time in China.
A comment on my trip to Beijing to attend a womens rights conference. Unknowned to me a small mark was stamped on my visa in my passport that would deny me entrance to shows, events, places, etc. In fact, my reservation at my hotel was cancelled when I presented my marked passport and I found out that only two hotels were authorized to accommodate me...at four times the regular price!
American Cultural Ambassadors David and Renate Jakupca
2 Alice: Alice, it's not them, Love :) Read the article again - it's the US State Department that's paranoid and has a "narrow judgement" (and aye, right you are lassie, too right indeed, but who would expect anything but from the US State Department though? :) Don't shoot the messenger, they're just reporting on government "warning" :) As far as what hotels will "monitor", well, Love, just call your local Congressman or just Bush or Cheney direct, they will provide you with the list for sure :)
I think this news is nonsense and targeted to ruin China tourism.I couldn't agree to the monitor things. Moreover around the world hotels are rated by their convenience and equipments. Are you referring to all hotels in beijing by your narrow judgement?
Would u plz check it beforehand and make an impersonal article?
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