Hong Kong's law enforcement officials say they are bracing for radical anti-globalization protesters at December's World Trade Organization talks who may seek to paralyze the Central district by forming a human barricade at the exit of the cross-harbor tunnel,
According to intelligence received by the government, an official said Monday in a wide-ranging briefing, protesters are also expected to attempt to damage the glass walls of the hotels in Admiralty and Wan Chai where political and business leaders from around the world will be staying.
Political dignitaries are expected to stay at the Grand Hyatt in Wan Chai while business leaders will mostly check-in at the JW Marriott, the Conrad Hotel and the Island Shangri-La in Admiralty.
Hong Kong authorities, however, have formidable assets on their side. The SAR is largely accessible only by air, which gives them the ability to identify and monitor protesters in a way that officials at other WTO protests were unable to do. Cheap accommodation is also difficult to find.
The government source said that if the planned moves are not thwarted, they may be enough to paralyze the traffic and the whole of Central because by that time police might need to seal off main roads in the district.
The government has been busy collecting intelligence from different agencies on the planned moves of the protesters, including from the central government and different consulates.
Officials say police are on high alert because the expected protesters are experienced and not easily tackled.
``If the protesters really form a human barricade at the tunnel exit, police may not be capable of removing them because they are experienced and know ways to cause havoc and confront the authorities,'' the source said.
``You can never imagine how extreme they can get. What if some Korean peasants suddenly kill themselves amid the protest at the tunnel?
``Police have to prepare for the worst and come up with contingency plans to tackle the chaotic situation,'' the source said, adding that the government is still planning appropriate strategies.''
Violent protests by anti-globalization demonstrators occurred at talks in Seattle in 1999 and Cancun in 2003, raising concerns that the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference here could turn violent as well.
The Hong Kong People's Alliance on WTO, a protest organization, expects as many as 1,000 representatives from the Korean Peasants' League, dubbed Asia's most militant anti-globalization demonstrators.
A farmer from the league stabbed himself to death during a protest staged outside the venue of the WTO talks in Cancun, Mexico, in 2003.
The talks will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai with 6,000 senior government officials, 3,000 journalists and 2,000 NGO representatives in attendance from December 13 to 18.
More than 4,000 demonstrators plan protests for December 11, 13 and 18, gathering at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and marching to the conference venue to present petitions.
The demonstrators then plan to return to Southorn Playground in Wan Chai, or if possible, Chater Garden and a nearby pedestrian area in Central.
As part of the contingency plans, police earlier proposed to seal off parts of the district near the venue, limit access to some office buildings and shut several transport services for the five days of the gathering, to ensure the safety of many foreign dignitaries and that talks go smoothly.
Apart from the security measures, the government is also considering how to deal with the protesters' request for accommodation in Hong Kong.
The groups have requested the government allocate several football pitches in Victoria Park for them to camp in because most have so far have failed to book accommodation, the source said.
The government has not yet given them a reply, but the source said there is no way the government will allow them to stay in the park.
The source added the government has no responsibility to assist them in finding places to stay.
``The government is just playing delaying tactics. The most ideal thing is that the protesters won't turn up because they just can't find a place to stay,'' the source said.
Tam Chun-yin, coordinator of the Hong Kong People's Alliance on WTO, acknowledged members have requested the police provide accommodation for them, such as in Victoria Park or other vacant buildings or schools if at the end of the day they cannot find any. ``Only in the worst scenario that we cannot find any place to stay would we need the help of the government,'' he said.
Tam said so far the action group has booked a resort village in Wu Kai Sha, Ma On Shan, which can house several hundred people.
But he added that more than 1,000, mainly peasants, have failed to find accommodation.
Tam said the group is now contacting religious schools and community centers for assistance.
Despite concerns expressed by government officials, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang, who will chair the WTO meeting, said during the opening ceremony of the 2005 International Conference on Nano-technology and Advanced Materials Monday that preparations are going smoothly.
``We are quite happy with the progress so far,'' Tsang told reporters.
He added that considerable preparations in logistics, security and content arrangements have already been carried out.
The summit is hoping to reduce trade protectionism and advocate the use of trade to aid development in poorer countries.
cannix.yau@singtaonewscorp.comThe Standard
