Being IN China (should be clear from comment history, don't understand that capitalisation of 'NOT'), I do indeed get the idea a public space is a public space, a Public Security place. And there's lots of observation, indeed, though mainly passive.
Buying a high-rise apartment includes many incentives, not just the colour of the plaster of the wall and compound security, which many of these Shanghai high-rises over on Bund side have, but, for many friends and colleagues that purchase one, that is is indeed a private space that should not have someone's camera pointed at them.
