Hong Kong and the WTO - December 18th, 2005

The first week in Hong Kong was also the week of the WTO. The atmosphere was quite tense in town, especially around the Wan Chai area, where the conference actually took place. I think the people in HK was over-reacting a little to the WTO, in typical HK fashion the protests were overall very peaceful. On the last day of the Conference, farmers from South Korea clashed with the police, who blasted them with pepper spray and high pressure water canons. The news kept repeating scenes of protestors attempting to overturn the police van, but that was really the extent of the violence. Few people were hurt and businesses were pretty much intact and ready to go after the event.

I ran into the protestors marching out of Victoria Park one day and took pictures. :)

Every day the protestors congregated in Victoria Park and marched along a pre-determined path towards Wan Chai where the convention center is.

There were police escorts along the way of course, as well a volunteers who were around to help keep order.

The pictures below I took in the park the day before. They are of artwork that accompanied the protestors, set up int the park for dispay.
I know they look quite creepy but of course, the point was to make an impact. Personally, I'm not sure how I feel about the WTO. I'm also not knowledgeable enough about the issues to be qualified to even have an opinion. HK is still struggling with the WTO as the government had arrested some protestors whoe they are now trying in court. Protestors of the hearings are on hunger strike outside the courthouse, demanding that their comrades be freed. I think HK is in for a long and public battle, but it is a great learning experience for the little city.