WTO police powers row (Hong Kong)

Mimi Lau,Doug Crets andAlbert Wong
Wednesday, November 02, 2005

<snip> The administration wants Legco to invoke a controversial law for the sealed area around the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai to stop protests if the police commissioner "reasonably considers it to be necessary to prevent an imminent threat to the interests of national security or public safety, public order for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, in such manner as he may think fit."

Those found breaking the law could be jailed for up to five years.

When Hong Kong hosted the 1997 World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meeting and the 2001 Fortune Forum, protesters were governed by obstruction of police and traffic ordinances.

Then, the maximum penalty for violators stood at a fine of HK$1,000 and six months in jail. <snip>

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=4771&sid=5286082&con_type=1