Anti-WTO demonstrations in Hong
Kong escalated with the protesters clashing violently with Police
Saturday, the fifth day of the ongoing Sixth Ministerial Conference
of the World Trade Organization.
The demonstrators, mainly South Korean farmers, have stepped up
their protesting activities by ramming through police cordon lines
and tried to enter the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center,
venue of the conference.
Riot police have reinforced their forces at the Center and used
tear gas and water cannons to prevent the demonstrators from
entering the conference venue.
It is reported that five persons, including protesters and
police, have been injured during the clash.
The demonstration has caused a traffic jam in Wanchai District,
a downtown area, and the police have urged Hong Kong residents not
to go to the district.
In a televised speech, Hong Kong Secretary for Security Ambrose
Lee said police have exercised restraint to deal with the violent
demonstration, but this was by no means a coward performance.
Lee said 41 people were injured in the clashes, including five
police officers.
Around 900 people were detained, but they had not been formally
arrested, Lee said, adding that everything will be done in
accordance with law.
He condemned the anti-WTO protesters for resorting to
non-peaceful means to express their views and warned that the
police will take robust action to dispel this kind of illegal act
and violence.
According to the latest news from the press center of the Sixth
WTO Ministry Conference, 54 people have been injured in the clashes
so far and admitted to hospital, 51 of whom have been discharged.
Among the three staying at hospital, two are in serious
condition.
(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2005)