...and this is news worthy?!

c mackenzie, London,

The incident will raise fresh questions about the intelligence of the aide !!!..Perhaps when somebody asked him to go get a Chinese........??!!

kirk, Rotherham, UK

He probably lost it in the club before he'd even picked her up

Lucinda , London,

To everyone who recommends keeping valuables in a safe, I suggest that "Chinese hotel" and "safe" is a contradiction in terms, or oxymoron, as peolple are fond of saying nowadays

Archie, Thrapston, England

Why wouldn't a government agency force encryption use on their department's Blackberries? It's frustrating to see the slow uptake of encryption technologies, but even dumber when it's already neatly integrated with the product. Their IT department could just force the policy out remotely.

Dean, Calgary, Canada

I have to sympathise with this guy. Last Tuesday night I was picked up by a young lady and one thing led to another and the next morning I discovered she'd stolen 100 rand from my wallet. It happened again on Thursday night, then Saturday, and with any luck it will happen again tomorrow.

Graham, Durban, South Africa

It seems that Prinicipal leaders would be more discerning in the selection of their key aides. Why have a scum bag with no character or integrity accompany a major leader on an international diplomatic trip? It seems sad that there is no leadership anywhere anymore.

Geo Washington, AL, USA

...and maybe there's a Canadian involvement in this since Blackberries are Canadian owned. Hmmmm not sure how but when paranoia set in even little Canada might not be innocent!

Glynn, Kingston,

Having lived in China for a number of years I can tell you now that this girl was NOT a part of an elaborate government espionage plan. She had no idea who this guy was, she simply saw a westerner in a suit and took advantage. A blackberry will pay her rent for about 2 months….

Tom, Beijing, China

Erm, I don't get the implication why this has to be a honeytrap. You picked up a woman, she spent the night, your valuables went missing - it happens! If you exhibited as much paranoia before you had your fun, then you wouldn't be in this mess would you? All the worlds woes stem not from China!

Gary Li, Hong Kong, China

What is amazing is that the British Government is sending emails to their overseas employees via their blackberrys. Any wireless telecom engineer knows that it is possible to monitor anything via the mobile phone/email exchanges. British Govt. attitude to security is limited to 42 day detention only

John Taylor, London,

Pulease! This is very common experience--and it has nothing to do with Chinese secret police. This is plain old prostitution, with the "pay" being whatever valuables you have on or around you that can be retrieved on her way out the door (while you're sleeping it off).

Dayahka, Aberdeen, USA

I bet he was 'reprimanded' without even an <exclamation mark>.

Next we'll hear that he's been promoted and given a huge pay rise(!)

AJ, London,

When you go to China they will collect much data on you including finger prints, genetic material and background data. The electronic undressing and social engineering for personal likes, dislikes and family secrets begins later. Good luck.

Mer, Sacramento,

"My BlackBerry is Missing" - how funny - I wonder what else he is missing ......

Lot's of hilarious responses to an obvious "tongue in cheek" article to raise the spirits of "gloom and doom" England!

lyn, southern california, usa

Proprietary technology is a danger to every nation. That is the real problem here. No nation has built an open development platform that could potentially provide for secure communications internationally. The Neo Freerunner is the closest we have. It however will need additional security software.

Jack, NYC, United States

Has this "lucky" gent been identified?

Michael S., Los Angeles, USA

The idea that the incompetents running the labour government have anything of use to the Chinese is laughable.

richard mullens, London, Europe

Just a good time girl, ---a "spy" would have cloned the card and left the blackberry back.

Tony, Portrush, N.Ireland

Errr.... "Don't Blame the Chinese"

Didn't they arrange the Honey trap. Yes the guy should have been thinking with more than his appendage, but you cannot absove the Chinese of guilt because of that.

Douglas Newell, Saltcoats, UK

Nice cultural exchange.

Christopher, Manama, Bahrain

The Brits are no dummies when it comes to spying. Who's to say that they didn't have the blackberry loaded with bogus info and intentionally allowed it to be stolen?

Jeff , Williamsport, USA

If this were a legitimate loss of a Downing Street Blackberry, we would never have heard about it.
It's a plant, obviously.

Edward, Kirkland, USA

"You seriously mean somebody wanted to have sex with somebody who works for Gordon Brown! Red light, anybody.

Christopher H, Canberra, Australia"

As usual, the most humorous comments come from Australia.

Tristan Fabriani, Washington, DC

Get real ladies and gentlemen. A blackberry is but a small price to pay for warm and cordial Anglo-Chinese relations. That guy should be made Foreign Secretary by Gordon Brown for showing that we Brits can be as hot blooded as the Italians.

anthony, london, england

Jason Masson said:
"As usual, the most ideological, hostile (CIA-driven?) and illiterate comments come from the U.S."

As usual, the most pretentious, arrogant, and self righteous comments come from the E.U.

Joe, California,

You seriously mean somebody wanted to have sex with somebody who works for Gordon Brown! Red light, anybody.

Christopher H, Canberra, Australia

I set up digital honey traps all the time for parties in which a door is PURPOSELY left open for hackers to gain access to. If the right person grabs the right data the competition make some bad decisions based on that data. This is definitely no different IMHO.
It's a PLANT! :)

Noelio, London, UK

Anything for a diversion from home front problems!

Glynn, Kingston,

"Blackberries" should be taklen away from those who are hormonally motivated, and replaced by an old-fashioned "raspberry". That would save the British taxpayers a lot of money, and show the offenders what we think of their extra-mural "diplomatic activities".

David, Maracay, Venezuela

As usual, the most ideological, hostile (CIA-driven?) and illiterate comments come from the U.S. -- with a sprinkling of like-minded comments from the U.K. Never ever do these people look inside themselves, their countries, and their intelligence services before they attack and blame others.

Jason Masson, Geneva, CH

007 is turning in his grave (He died after Pierce). Can't wait for the tabloid witch hunt on this one, where we find out who the guy was, a photo of a distraught wife, and shamed children. An exposé on China's sex spy history, and write ups about the Blackberry in the Tech pages.

Fergus, Cork, Ireland

"What's the big deal? Don't we all spy on each other? If it was a Chinese agent, we should feel sorry for her for having to sleep with the guy. " -Frank, San Diego, USA


LOL!!! Its funny because its true.

Brundi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The contemptuous hilarity of these posts is wonderful, and much deserved by the hapless government officer.

People in my country--the US--are incapable, at least in public forums, of such wit and ability to laugh at our own bumbling public servants.

The best writing I have read lately.

Randy Phillips, Shiloh,Ga, USA

The Chinese has more manpower dedicated to intel collection than you western agencies. If you are a person of interest due to your employment, which doesn't limit to government, or related to someone of interest, then you will be a target of collection. Hotel is heavily surveillanced.

Frank, Arlington, USA

When anyone contacts a server in china, via laptop, PDA, Blackberry, or phone, it is hacked. Think social security numbers, pass codes, Personal identification numbers (PIN), proprietary business information on you and yours. Think trade secrets available to the worst advesaries imaginable.

John, Tampa,

Gordon Brown adviser, whilst on official business, has sex with a Chinese whore and loses his Blackberry.

Sack him.
Divorce him (if he's married).
Dump him (if he's in a relationship).
Sack his boss.
Sue him for the expenses he no doubt claimed, out of MY TAXES.

Helen E., London, UK

Just wait for the blackmail video tape to turn up. Last month, tt happened to a Taiwan legislator when he took two chinese girls back to the hotel after meeting them at a Karaoke Bar. They had tape of him in the bar and then at the hotel.

John, Arlington, US

Do these people not get security briefings? Back in the 70s we were given very stern warnings about men with snow on their boots and ladies with vodka on their lips.
Cold war paranoia kept us on our toes. Perhaps some of that would come in handy now. What a bunch of schmucks.

PM, Puerto, Spain

This Englishman took a WOMAN back to his room. WOW!!

bill, pleasant plains, usa

How come I never fall into one of these honeytraps? Maybe I should get a Blackberry

Bill Kozacas, Lynnwood,

While traveling to totalitarian states, like Red China, you leave absolutely nothing of information value in the hotel (your room or hotel safe) unattended for even one minute. Never out of your positive control. It is naive to believe that every non-Chinese national is not a target.

Sam Waite, Shawnee, OK, USA

LOL, well done aide... still remember how happy it was in that bed? Your wife feels happy too?
BTW, is your wallet till in your pocket?

Bob, Oxford, UK

That Chinese woman is just a typical Chinese sex worker in Shanghai, she has nothing to do with Chinese intelligence.

Diana, Warrington, the UK

Although it's wrong to assume spies are always competent, wouldn't a real intelligence operation team just have copied the phone's cards while the target was asleep and left him none the wiser?

Mark, Ottawa, Canada

"Honeytrap"? The guy lost his phone. What evidence is there of espionage? If it had been, surely they would have copied the phone memory, returned it to him later. Giving them access to all his password, etc, which of course would be cancelled the moment he reported it stolen. What a beat-up.

Alan, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Look on the bight side. It shows how inclusive Britain has become under NuLabour.

Even complete numpty can become an aide to the PM.

jasper, chelmsford,

It doesn't highlight the growing threat of Chinese intelligence, it highlights the growing threat of Downing Street's stupidity! A 'top aide' should be capable of thinking with his head not his groin

CR, Berkshire,

Men's brains are in their trousers.
What more proof do you need?? -

Chrissie, London, UK

Shanghai'd in Shanghai.

Not one of Nazereth's bests but . . .

Hilarious.

Mark Gobell, Ware, England

Are this woman's "expenses" on the John Lewis list?

Tom Franklin, London, UK

And how many laptops are missing from the Ministry of Defence?
Obviously the thing to do is to plant false information on all these devices and then just give them to the Chinese!

gb, Austin, USA

Bring back the eunuchs. They make for a more trustworthy public service. The least expensive route would be be conversion of those presently in place.

tongaloa, honolulu, USA

Typical really, the Chinese stopped being inventive and creative around the middle ages, now they want to steal everything so they can stop being the worlds machine shop and then they wornder why they are not offered the respect on the world stage that they expect to receive...

gareth thomas, edinburgh,

If this guy was in a sensitive position, why didn't he have a "minder" from British security or counter-intelligence?

nick, Chicago, Illinois, USA

The British are suffering from the same malady as America, they believe "the world is my oyster". It is a naivete that can be charming, obnoxious and dangerous. Sun-tzu: "The govt is rich, , the ruler is arrogant, the ministers extravagant". The guy is smarter than Obama, he admitted his idiocy.

Paul, Miami, FL, USA

And still we kowtow to Peking for fear of damaging business...

robbo, Melton Mowbray, Leics, England

Intelligence service trawl widel. Tens of thousands of Chinese security officials monitor domestic chatrooms. If you think they wouldn't target an aide to the PM of a G8 country you are utterly naive. China has enormous spare intelligence capacity.

Jonathan, London,

I really must get a Blackberry.

Adam C, Melbourne, Australia

The odds are very good that all she wanted was his $400.00 phone and didn't even know who he was...now she does.

Czechbikr, Chicago, USA

All hotels which reps of HMG visit should have rooms in which there are personal safes for passports, blackberries and other valuables. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would know to secure valuables out of the way. Obviously Gordon's advisors are even bigger prats than we originally thought.

Jon , London,

Given the way things are going in the world at the moment, one would imagine it would be the British who would do such a thing on the Chinese. As far as the Chinese are concerned, Britain does not even merit a mention in a serious way, as they regard only the US and Russia as their rivals.

BB, Dublin, Ireland

Gotta Watch Out - Those Women in those discos are professionals.......my friend in Hong Kong picked up two of these "honeys" and got his rolex, wallet and phone stolen......after dancing and other "activities" .....he fell asleep -

For all you know she was a working girl and wanted a phone...

TM, Palm Beach , USA

Who paid for this man's sex venue with the Chinese "honeytrap"?

Who paid for the admittance to the disco? Who paid for their drinks?

The taxpayer? Are we just funding Gordon Brown's teams jollies now?

What kind of foolish idiots are running this country, and advising them?

Laura Roberts, London, UK

you are flattering yourself, if you think the Chinese would bother. Now if he were an American... :)

Zhang, Dubai, UAE

- A two day diplomatic jaunt for 40 at taxpayer expense; 2.8 million pounds..

- Picking up the tab for 100 young Chinese revelers at the disco; 12,480 pounds..

- Getting "Shang-ho'd" by a PRC intelligence service hottie to the tune of one Executive Staffer's blackberry,,, priceless.

Frank Williams, Evans, United States

The heading implies it is not his fault for lossing his blackberry. Yes good excuse. Blamed the Chinese Govt. for it. That is what we all like to find an excuse on China. Come on, he just got himself caught from a stupid liaison. No conspiracy from what so ever

d. kean, hong kong,

Baz : it's wonderful to recall the complete sexual continence of John Major's ministers, isn't it? The same goes for Mragaret Thatcher's cabinte. Remember Alan Clark?

Dectora, London, UK

"The incident highlights the growing threat of Chinese intelligence"

No, the incident highlights the growing threat of British government unintelligence

If you take an enthusiastic young lady back to yr room in China, you check in yr wallet, Rolex, Blackberry, etc. She is not doing it for love.

Albert, Paris,

An aide to the PM thinks it's OK to pick up some woman in a disco and sleep with her, and in his official room. Then when his Blackberry, a security risk also paid for by out taxes, is stolen, he's only informally reprimanded.

Blunkett, Prescott and now this. What a sordid excuse for a government.

Baz, London, UK

Perhaps that woman can advise us when the next labour election is coming.

kenny livitt, hove,

Sounds to me like the guy is a victim of his own poor judgment. Don't blame the Chinese secret services for the lack of judgment and the inability to resist some primal urges on the part of this "aide".

Jack, London,

It's basic risk analysis training for any private sector employee. That its a member of a team accompanying our Prime Minister is unbelievable. Surely, given the Governments track record on data loss and mismanagement in general, the A1 priority would have been 'no incidents'.

Robert, London, UK

Well, did he do the business then, or what?

Sam, Durham, UK

This reveals so much about our government's untrustwortiness: Blackberry's have highly sensitive data that's not normally encrypted; "no compromise to security" despite the risk of hacking into Downing St server; 20 staff on a taxpayer funded junket & at least 1 Blackberry & 1 affair on 2nd night.

Tony, LONDON, UK

Dear Pu Li: I can't speak for your part of Guangxi but live in Shanghai and have been using a BlackBerry here for 3 years. They work quite happily with roaming.

Wei Ma Ke, Shanghai, China

Good O! The chap has been "informally reprimanded"! And in the tradition of the Brown Government, the next time he will be "reprimanded", & after that "seriously" reprimanded, then "severely reprimanded", then "counseled", & then "where the bloody hell did you lose the Nation's nuclear secrets!"

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

when you found your blackberrys, or other properties were stolen, the first one you should blammed is yourself, for your careless! Do United Stated have no theives? don' t judge people when you found that he wasn't American.

Malan, Wuhan,

There was little point in bringing a BlackBerry to China anyway as they simply don't work here. China has it's own system which isn't compatible. It's called the 'RedBerry......'

No really it is!!

Pu Li, Guangxi, PRC

what a sad man is he who can't go to a disco blackberry. if of course i have assumed wrongly and the blackberry was at the hotel the whole time then might i suggest our politicos keep their valuables in a safe?

Marco, Krak#w, Poland

The main thing I remember in the old communist states was that violent street crime was non-existent but there was corruption aplenty. Perhaps it extended to the bedroom.

Next time, be more careful Mr. Aide and make sure you're checked out for HIV etc. when you come home.

leila, manchester, uk

Wow, what an embarrassing article.

An aide loses his cell phone after cheating on his wife, and somehow this is linked to a huge spy ring conspiracy? It's far more likely he met some poor woman looking for money.

You Brits crack me up sometimes. I can't believe this is a featured news story...

Tom, Boston, USA

That wouldn't have happened to 007. C'mon Britain, you got a reputation to uphold .

Jim, Somersworth, U.S.A.

He didn't know the rules! Never take your wallet/phone with you to a club. If you meet a girl, arrange to meet later.

His wife will give him hell.

Wouldn't happen in Thailand!

John, London,

Doubtless British taxpayers are delighted at the way your taxes are being spent.....20 Downing Street staff on a junket.

Richard, Melbourne, Australia

What's the big deal? Don't we all spy on each other? If it was a Chinese agent, we should feel sorry for her for having to sleep with the guy.

Frank, San Diego, USA

Dear Chongqing Colin: Why wouldn't it be true? You think one of the world's vilest totalitarian states doesn't spy on the West?

John, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Oh come on, just a little game of hide and seek. Gosh, what's wrong with you people? The Chinese, and the Russians for that matter, are your friends. Those goverments are actually full of very nice people and neither would do anything to harm you. They're not like the bad and nasty old USA :)

Ed, Raleigh, usa

Name and shame him! He is probably married and preaching family values...

mark, Leeds,

"Gordon Brown aide a victim of honeytrap operation by Chinese agents"

There's not a shred of evidence to support this headline. All assumption, let's face it, he had his blackberry stolen by a good time girl and that's the end of it.

Colin, Chongqing, China

All expenses paid by the hard-pressed taxpayer too, Gordon ?

In which direction was your aide's moral compass pointing and can we assume that the person concerned is no longer employed by 10 Downing Street ?

Rick, London, England

"Downing Street staff went to a hotel disco where a lively party with several hundred young people was in full swing....approached by an attractive Chinese woman"

LOL, well what to expect from dirty old men, probably married and looking for some youthful females where they won't be caught.

Brundi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Nice one! They really are completely stupid aren't they? Mind you most men think with their reproductive organs!

judy, Liverpool, England

I think the biggest threat to this Country is the Labour Government as they have done pretty well so far in decimating it. By the time the Chinese get to "take over" all that would be left will be a bunch of youths with knives.

Alex, london, uk

Duh, how stupid can you get?

And, these are the people who are supposed to govern us!!

Max, London,