[asia-apec 1767] HK: Activists plan summit rival during WEF Summit

[Kevin Yuk-shing Li]

South China Morning Post, Wednesday, May 16, 2001

HONG KONG
Activists plan summit rival

Protesters plot 'alternative conference' to coincide with economic meeting in
SAR

 Anti-globalisation activists are planning to host an "alternative
conference" to counter an international economic summit to be held in
October.

The proposal is posted on a major direct-action group's Web site, which
publicises information about its worldwide campaign and forthcoming protests
against corporate globalisation.

On the site, protest group Asian Activism says an alternative meeting on
"fascism and imperialism" is being planned for October 29, when the World
Economic Forum (WEF) starts its three-day annual Asia-Pacific Economic
Summit in Hong Kong.

On another site, the Hong Kong-based Globalization Monitor says it is
planning activities in response to "WEF propaganda".

Yuen Hoi-yan, an editor of Globalization Monitor, a Chinese-language
periodical focusing on the impact of globalisation, said it hoped to reach
local concern groups rather than those overseas. "We are aiming to increase
awareness of the impact of globalisation among the people in Hong Kong, so
we want to discuss it with local groups to work out our strategy," Ms Yuen
said.

She said that while activists were also considering inviting some overseas
protesters to Hong Kong, they were only thinking of inviting a few people
from Southeast Asian countries. Other actions being considered included
demonstrations and workshops, but mass protests would not be an option as it
would be difficult to raise enough funds.

Hong Kong police have been keeping a close watch on possible action by
overseas activists to guard against any attempts to disrupt the summit and
the 14th general meeting of the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council in
late November.

Police Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui said on Monday that some
anti-globalisation groups had launched a recruitment exercise on a Web site
to enlist activists to demonstrate in Hong Kong.

Thousands of anti-globalisation protesters clashed with police during the
World Economic Forum's meeting in Melbourne last September.

Activists also warn on a Web site of their intention to "smash" another
World Economic Forum meeting to be held in Salzburg, Austria, from July 1 to
3, saying they are "going to confront the rulers with resistance that cannot
be ignored".

But one of the key US-based anti-globalisation activists, Lee Siu-hin, said
there were no plans to target the two meetings in Hong Kong as they were
busy preparing for action against the World Bank meetings in Washington in
September and October.

Earlier, Mr Lee said major demonstrations were unlikely to be held in Hong
Kong as the territory lacked the necessary conditions, such as financial
support for the activists.

But SAR police insist they will stay vigilant and that last week's tight
security arrangements for the Fortune Global Forum served as a deterrent
against any plans to disrupt the two conferences later in the year.