Are you concerned about information security at your meetings? Hong Kong University is taking it seriously, asking all attendees to hand in their cell phones and watching what else they may have brought in very carefully.
Concerned about a possible bug, a man was asked to pour tea out of his thermos at a contentious council meeting to demonstrate that there really was a drink inside it.
Previous information leaks had taken place even after they implemented a no cell phone policy at the meetings.
It’s good to be cautious, checking a thermos is not a bad idea. A number of recording devices are readily available in the form of mugs and thermoses and probably any other item you can think of.
Video and audio recorder built into thermos mug.
More information on the Hong Kong incident is available from the South China Post:
A man was asked to spill the contents of his thermos for a government-appointed HKU council member who accused him of attempting to bug the contentious meeting.
Dr Cheung Kie-chung said he was accused of installing a listening device in his mug during the session in Wan Chai on Tuesday.
Fears of audio leaks have dogged the council since several recordings of confidential information from meetings were leaked last October.
Cheung, a council member who represents teaching staff, detailed the row in a post on his personal Facebook page at about midnight on Tuesday.
“Today, after handing in my mobile phone, someone asked me why I had brought this stainless steel thermos mug along every time,” he said in the post.
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Student representative Billy Fung Jing-en, who was kicked out of the same meeting, shared Cheung’s post and added: “The questioner was Leonie Ki Man-fung”, referring to a government-appointed council member.
Fung further disclosed details on a radio show on Wednesday and said Ki’s question was “interesting”.
“Ki was serious. She asked Cheung to pour the tea out to see if it was real tea,” he said, adding that Cheung acted accordingly to prove his innocence.
Dr Cheung Kie-chung with a real microphone on DBC last year, and his thermos (inset). Photo: SCMP Pictures
In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Ki said she raised her inquiry with Cheung “reasonably”, considering that previous leaks had taken place even after members were asked to hand in their mobile phones before meetings.
“The wiretapping anxiety is not yet resolved. I hope that I can work together with Cheung on the principle of confidentiality for future meetings,” she said.
The monthly council meeting was moved from the HKU campus in Pok Fu Lam to the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, following a protest which trapped council members and staff inside the venue.