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Bottlenecks and Checks

After the train bombing on the 7th July there was some discussion in the UK about screening people and luggage travelling on trains. In China this is already standard procedure at mainline stations - luggage goes through an x-ray machine. In a country with relatively high incidence of pick-pocketing it's not surprising that the luggage is closely watched going into and emerging from the x-ray machine. It also serves as a convenient barrier for the authorities to check resident permits (although checks were not being carried out when this photo was taken). If identity cards are introduced as is currently discussed in the UK what are the physical bottlenecks where ID checks are likely to occur?

From a short stop in Xiamen station in an effort to understand local similarities and differences.

Writing from Xiamen | May 15, 2006 | Permalink