China syndromeChina installs covert spy devices on Hong Kong cars
A Chinese newspaper recently revealed that China has been installing spying devices on cars in Hong Kong for years, creating a vast eavesdropping network across the island; the recording devices were installed as “inspection and quarantine cards” beginning in July 2007 on all vehicles that had dual Chinese and Hong Kong license plates; it is estimated that at least 20,000 cars and tens of thousands of trucks and buses in Hong Kong have dual license plates
A Chinese newspaper recently revealed that China has been installing spying devices on cars in Hong Kong for years, creating a vast eavesdropping network across the island.
According to the Apple Daily, the recording devices were installed as “inspection and quarantine cards” beginning in July 2007 on all vehicles that had dual Chinese and Hong Kong license plates. The devices were put in place free of charge by the Shenzhen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on thousands of vehicles.
Smugglers based in Hong Kong first discovered the presence of the listening devices after Chinese authorities began seizing cars carrying contraband items with unnerving accuracy.
An anonymous smuggler speaking to the Apple Daily, said, “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!”
Investigators from the Apple Daily took one of the devices to a private investigator as well as a university professor to examine.
According to Zhang Dawei, a private investigator, based on the device’s internal structure it could very likely be used for eavesdropping.
The device is about the size of a smart phone and is attached to a vehicle’s front window. Inside the device is a chip that converts voice signals into digital information, a crystal that generates frequency for radio transmission, and an antenna that broadcasts signal.
Zheng Liming, an associate professor of electrical engineering at City University of Hong Kong, who also examined the device, said they were “very likely’ used to listen in on conversations.
Zheng said that much cheaper chips could be used to inspect vehicles at border crossings, “but this device uses chips commonly found in Bluetooth and voice recording devices, designed for receiving voice transmission.”
He added that the range is quite extensive.
“The signal receiving range is up to 20km (12.5 miles), which means if the device installer wants to, they can listen even when the vehicles are in Hong Kong,” Zheng said.
It is estimated that at least 20,000 cars and tens of thousands of trucks and buses in Hong Kong have dual license plates.
The Shenzhen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau has firmly denied that they have been installing spying devices.
