China assures privacy protection

BEIJING, March 25 (UPI) -- China, refuting U.S. concerns, says foreign visitors to the Summer Olympics in Beijing won't be subject to government surveillance.

Assuring the visitors' privacy would be protected, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, "There's no special arrangement which is beyond the security measures widely employed in accordance with international rules at public locations, hotels and offices in China," Xinhua reported.

Xinhua said Qin responded to a reported U.S. warning to American visitors to the Games that hotel rooms and offices in China would be subject to remote technical monitoring and could be accessed at any time without the occupant's consent or knowledge.

"Privacy in China is always under protection according to the law, and there's no need for foreign visitors to worry about that," Qin said, adding, "The warning by the U.S. bureau is irresponsible."