Hong Kong braced for violent WTO protests

HONG KONG braced for potential violence as anti-globalisation protesters kicked off a flurry of demonstrations yesterday against this week’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting of nearly 150 rich and poor nations.

Around 3,000 protesters waving signs reading “Junk the WTO” and “Life is not for sale” marched in a carnival atmosphere in the shade of skyscrapers in one of the world’s main financial centres.

Some 10,000 activists are expected to converge on Hong Kong as the city holds a pivotal ministerial meeting from December 13-18 in a bid to get stalled global trade talks back on track.