AREA AROUND HONG KONG WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ORDERED CLOSED TO PUBLIC
The Hong Kong government has issued a decree restricting public access to the area around the venue for the WTO’s December Ministerial Conference. The restricted zone includes both land and sea and will extend approximately one square kilometre around the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), located in the city’s Wanchai district.
Hong Kong police will issue accreditation badges to approximately 11,000 participants including delegates, press members and civil society representatives. Badges will also be issued to conference support staff and residents living within the cordoned-off area. Members of the public wishing to gain access to the zone for "justifiable purposes" may apply for a permit with local police.
Hong Kong government officials say that the security measure is needed due to police intelligence reports indicating that large numbers of local and foreign protesters will conduct demonstrations during the summit. "To safeguard public safety and public order in the conference venue and its surroundings, the Administration considers it necessary to set up a closed area," said a government spokesperson. "Entry into the area will be allowed only with permission from the Commissioner of Police."
The ‘public order ordinance’ was issued by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who will have the authority to similarly close any other area in Hong Kong if he believes it is necessary to protect public safety and maintain public order.
The Ministerial Conference will be held from 13-18 December. Access restrictions will come into effect at 6 pm on 12 December and will remain in place on a 24-hour basis until 5 am on 19 December.
A full copy of the Closed Area (Hong Kong Ministerial Conference of World Trade Organization) Order is available at: http://www.gld.gov.hk/cgi-bin/gld/egazette/gazettefiles.cgi?lang=e&year=2005&month=10&day=7&vol=09&no=40&gn=160&header=1&part=0&df=1&nt=s2&newfile=1&acurrentpage=12&agree=1&gaz_type=ls2.
"Closed Area Order Gazetted for WTO Conference," HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION PRESS RELEASE, 7 October 2005.