But without a clear Chinese law currently in effect, the guidelines if made mandatory would prohibit the export of such data even when a customer had consented.
As events in Serbia make clear, concessions made to endear ourselves to ruthless dictators generally have the effect of not only legitimating but emboldening them.
However, Mr Walsh said that "the new transport secretary has made it clear that she wants this issue addressed and has set up a smaller working group with immediate effect to see how quickly this restriction can be revised".