British PM's aide lost BlackBerry on China trip: Downing Street

LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office confirmed on Saturday that an investigation was launched after an aide to the premier lost his BlackBerry mobile device while on a trip to China in January.

Downing Street denied, however, a report in The Sunday Times newspaper that the aide had been the victim of a "honeytrap" by Chinese intelligence agents, and said the BlackBerry had instead been lost at an "evening event" and added that security was not compromised.

"It is correct that a member of Prime Minister's Office lost their BlackBerry during a visit to China in January, however not in the circumstances described in the story," Brown's office said in a statement.

"The BlackBerry was lost at an evening event attended by the member of staff and others from the official party.

"This was reported immediately and mitigation measures were put in place -- an investigation has subsequently taken place. There was no compromise to security."

The Sunday Times had reported that the aide, who was not named, was picked up by a Chinese woman who approached him at a Shanghai disco, and agreed to go back to his hotel with her.

According to the weekly, which cited an unidentified senior official, the aide reported his BlackBerry, a mobile phone that can also be used to make and receive e-mails, missing the following morning.