Authorities feel the event will showcase Asia's 'world city' and be a boon to the economy, regardless of any protests
Hong Kong will bid to host the World Trade Organisation's sixth ministerial meeting to be held either at the end of 2004 or in 2005, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Henry Tang Ying-yen said yesterday.
Mr Tang said the police had the experience and expertise to handle anti-globalisation protesters, who have demonstrated at all major international gatherings since the 1999 WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle, when violence forced a delay to the opening ceremony.
'We will not overlook the protesters, but what happened in Seattle, such as ministers being forced to stay in their hotel rooms, should not happen in Hong Kong,' Mr Tang said.
He said Supachai Panitchpakdi, the WTO director-general, had expressed confidence in Hong Kong's ability to handle anti-globalisation activists when the pair met at an informal WTO ministerial meeting in Egypt last month.
In a commerce and industry panel meeting, lawmakers were yesterday told the government believed the event would bring about 8,000 visitors and some 180 government ministers to Hong Kong, contributing approximately $100 million to the tourism industry.
