For Ideological Assurance, Your Room May Be Monitored

The State Department's website is warning American tourists traveling to China for the Olympics about the possible bugging of hotel rooms.

All visitors should be aware that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy in public or private locations. 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.

However, your room phone is out of Chinese reach. Homeland Security is tapping that.

Many hotels and apartment buildings may be of substandard construction, lack emergency exits, fire suppression systems, carbon monoxide monitors and standard security equipment (locks, alarms, and personnel).

So those of you from Queens should feel right at home.