CONFIDENTIAL UK EYES A
3.5.
3.6.
3.7.
Colony, it would have been detected and neutralized by the Government House-based TSD Technical Security officer, during his regular periods of spatial monitoring of the radio frequency spectrum. The vulnerability of the building to this type of technical attack is therefore assessed as LOW.
The cleaners and any artisans working in the Governor's Study are supervised by members of the Hong Kong Police guard detachment based at Government House. This means that there is a risk of a quick plant radio microphone or miniature tape recorder being installed by either a suborned cleaner or police officer. However, the TSO based in Government House is expected to carry out monitoring of the radio spectrum and also to undertake regular physical and technical searches within the area for evidence of this type of attack. Provided that he carries out these tasks conscientiously, the vulnerability to a quick plant radio microphone attack is assessed as LOW, but a quick plant tape recorder would probably survive counter measures if it was only used for short durations.
The replacement of a portable item such as a 13 Amp plug adapter by an externally similar but "doctored" device takes only seconds to accomplish. A more permanent fixture such as a light switch or 13 Amp socket can be exchanged in minutes by a suitably trained artisan. Therefore a Mover device which uses the electrical mains as the egress route to pass its low radio frequency intelligence bearing signals out to a listening post, could be easily installed within the Governor's Study under the present arrangements (which would be difficult to alter) for the supervision of the cleaners and artisans. However, the TSO based in Government House
is required to monitor the electrical mains on a regular basis, in order to intercept signals from this type of device. Provided that RF monitoring of the electrical mains is properly undertaken, the vulnerability to a Mover device is assessed as LOW.
The telephone system in Government House was supplied, installed and is maintained by the Hong Kong Telephone Company (HKTC). Although in 1973 a Technical Security Inspection team recommended that TSD modified telephones should be provided in the sensitive areas (TSI report 76/73 refers), this recommendation was never carried out. On the Governor's desk there is a telephone connected to a low
grade secure speech system for use within the Hong Kong official community. This is also maintained by HKTC It is understood that the crypto key is fixed within the telephone, which means that the instrument has to be changed at the end of each crypto period. The use of Brahms has been catered for by the
technicians.
CONFIDENTIAL
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UK EYES A