PS: as a once NSW policeman I know that there are never enough watchers watching those who watch.

Its downright criminal for governments to not do a full job with police and intell orgs.

I could tell you stories that would curl your hair because we never had enough supervision.

30 years later... and I wonder... if much has changed in the old job.

Hi Gibo

Yes the torch relay (see my article http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=7324 ) did confirm that a large number of mainland Chinese in Australia could be mobilised quickly by Chinese diplomats for Chinese Government purposes.

The enormity of the mobilisation is in accord with Chen Yonglin's estimate of 1,000 spies. I think though he was talking about full time professional spies, part timers and lil helpers (informants). The last group would form the majority.

While the definition of a full time professional, if he is acting like a spy, may be a bit more clean cut, it may not be always. Even Chen said he spent much time coercing Chinese dissidents in Australia. This was outside accepted diplomatic boundaries. He wasn't trawling for secrets but in some ways even Chen could have been labelled a spy. For full-timers it probably depends how much damage they are doing (or threat they pose) on whether the Government acts.

On solutions. Quietly kicking them out of the country may be common - may be not. Whether the public have a right to know is another question.

The most public spy cases are in the US - perhaps to act as a deterrent/warning to other Americans who wish to unload secrets to foreign governments/companies. There is no such tradition of publicity here. Australia follows the UK tradition in most things.

In the case of the part-timers and lil helpers who would make up the majority of the 1,000 positive identification and action gets more difficult.

If A told B who told C who told some Chinese diplomat about a quiet Falun Gong meeting in Sydney who is the spy? Should all be kicked out? Under what law?

I agree there should be more watching of the watchers especially where there are discepencies in the law regarding Australian citizens.

Regards

Pete