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August 09, 2005

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Make chaos, not peace

The Standard reports Hong Kong's boys and girls in blue are plotting strategy for WTO protests expected in the Big Lychee in December.

Hong Kong's law enforcement officials say they are bracing for radical anti-globalization protesters at December's World Trade Organization talks who may seek to paralyze the Central district by forming a human barricade at the exit of the cross-harbor tunnel,

According to intelligence received by the government, an official said Monday in a wide-ranging briefing, protesters are also expected to attempt to damage the glass walls of the hotels in Admiralty and Wan Chai where political and business leaders from around the world will be staying.

Will anyone notice if they blocked the tunnel? The traffic doesn't move at the best of times. The obvious solution is to let mini-bus and taxi drivers do what they do best - drive like maniacs at speed regardless of anyone getting in their way. But with such a dangerous rabble and fears the police aren't adequately prepared, what to do? Well, there's always sod off, swampy. But the cops are way smarter than that:
Hong Kong authorities, however, have formidable assets on their side. The SAR is largely accessible only by air, which gives them the ability to identify and monitor protesters in a way that officials at other WTO protests were unable to do. Cheap accommodation is also difficult to find.
Are the cops planning to use Google Earth to track down the protesters? The protesters have even asked the Government permission to sleep in parks to avoid accomodation costs. How dare they undermine one of the police's best tactics! Capitalism strikes another blow against the anti-globalisation zealots.

Why is Hong Kong bothering to stage this anyway? The Government admits it will lose more than $150 million even after allowing for those ever mysterious "tourism receipts". They'd be better off spending the money to promote the Government's theme park. We might get some return on that investment.

ESWN has more coverage of police plans for the WTO conference from Next Weekly.

Update (August 11th)

Hong Kong's papers cover the great expectations for the WTO conference.

 posted by Simon on 08.09.05 at 12:05 PM in the WTO category.




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