Couples should think twice about canoodeling in public - chances are they're being watched.

A comprehensive closed-circuit TV camera network in Beijing sees all.

Public security cameras however are not there to catch intimate moments between two people. Rather, according to the city's security authorities, the cameras are there to make the public feel safe, by discouraging crime.

Eye-catching bilingual signs will be put up to remind the public to "watch your behavior" when entering areas that have camera surveillance.

Locations include many public areas including roads, cinemas, malls, hospitals and squares.

Public safety is particularly vital leading up to, and including the 2008 Summer Olympics.

"It's in the public interest, though," Jian Bo, 20, a sophomore student, told China Daily.

"But I don't think I'll alter my habits. Public displays of affection are fashionable, particularly for me and my girl."

Critics of the security cameras have previously said they invade privacy, prompting the camera regulators, including public traffic administration, public security and civic affairs authorities, to signpost where and when people could be watched.

"It aims at reminding people to watch their personal behavior in public, and inform them when being under camera exposure," stated the newly released Beijing Municipal Public Security Image Information System Regulation.

Abuse of the surveillance network for "non-official use" will attract fines of up to 30,000 yuan ($3,950), according to the regulation.

The city already has a well-established system that includes 265,000 cameras on a highly efficient network.

Different camera "grades" on the three-tier system covering city, county and township, set limits on what certain cameras can monitor.

The city level cameras have full access rights to image content recorded by lower grade monitors. However, this is not the case for county and townships.

It is not known how many cameras each graded authority owns or the number controlled by the public traffic administration for public security purposes and by agencies and other institutions.

(China Daily 07/25/2007 page5)